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Senate rejects bill that would have created secretary of state's document-validity unit after hours of public concern
Summary
Senators declined to advance a bill that would have created a "document validity" division in the secretary of state's office with investigatory powers and authority to declare certain filings void by a preponderance-of-evidence standard after extensive public testimony raised due-process and cost concerns.
Senators voted down Senate Bill 212 on a voice vote after roughly three hours of public testimony and committee questions, leaving in place the current system for handling alleged petition and filing irregularities.
Supporters said the bill would give the secretary of state's office tools to investigate suspected fraud in petitions and filings and to refer possible crimes to prosecutors; opponents said it created an unaccountable law-enforcement-like unit that could strip signatures without adequate due process.
Senator Larry Hammer, who carried the measure, told the committee the bill was narrowly tailored to let the secretary of state's office conduct fact-finding about alleged falsity in documents and to refer possible crimes to prosecutors. "We're just asking give them the ability to investigate so they can bring the evidence, turn it over, and then let the…
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