SB2555

Report Title:

Office of Elections; Task Force on Voters with Disabilities

 

Description:

Creates a task force within the office of elections to make recommendations to improve voter participation and voter access to individuals with disabilities.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2555
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to elections.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to establish a task force to make recommendations to the office of elections on accommodating the needs and increasing voter participation of individuals with disabilities in elections.

SECTION 2. Task force on voters with disabilities. (a) There is established a task force on voters with disabilities within the office of elections. The task force shall advise the chief election officer on matters relating to accommodating the needs and increasing participation of voters with disabilities.

(b) The duties of the task force shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(1) Evaluating the voter registration and voting process to improve accommodation of voters with disabilities; and

(2) Making recommendations, including changes to statutes, rules, or policies, to improve the accommodation of voters with disabilities and to increase participation by voters with disabilities.

(c) The members of the task force on voters with disabilities shall be appointed by the governor by July 31, 2002, and consist of the following individuals:

(1) Eight voters with disabilities who are representative of all four counties;

(2) The chief election officer;

(3) The respective county clerks of each county;

(4) One representative from the statewide independent living council; and

(5) One representative from the disability communication access board.

SECTION 3. The task force on voters with disabilities shall submit an interim report on its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2003 regular session. A final report shall be submitted to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 regular session.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for the task force on voters with disabilities to carry out its duties under this Act.

SECTION 5. The sum appropriated by section 4 of this Act shall be expended by the office of elections.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________