Bill Text: HI HB1976 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To The Office Of Elections.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-22 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [HB1976 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1976-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1976
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that removing barriers for persons with voting accessibility needs ensures that all individuals have equal access to the voting process.  Existing law requires the state office of elections and each county election office to remove barriers, promoting greater participation in voting by individuals with access needs who may be otherwise excluded.  However, understanding the unique needs of each community statewide can provide valuable insight on current and future accessibility issues for voters.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the office of elections to annually request funding for the statewide elections accessibility needs advisory committee; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the office of elections for the statewide elections accessibility needs advisory committee to carry out its mandate.

     SECTION 2.  Section 11-10.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§11-10.5  Statewide elections accessibility needs advisory committee[.]; annual budget request.  (a)  There is established a statewide elections accessibility needs advisory committee within the office of elections for administrative purposes.  The purpose of the advisory committee is to ensure equal and independent access to voter registration, casting of ballots, and all other office of elections services.

     (b)  The advisory committee shall consist of five members appointed by the governor based on recommendations from organizations within the State that are comprised of a majority of officers and members who are persons with disabilities including visual impairment.  Each member shall identify as a voter with accessibility needs arising from disabilities including visual and hearing impairments that require an accommodation to vote.  The terms of advisory committee members shall be four years; provided that initial terms shall be one, two, three, or four years to ensure staggered rotation of members.

     (c)  The advisory committee shall meet at least annually to review election procedures, services, and technology and access to information, and shall make recommendations to the office of elections on at least an annual basis.  The advisory committee may meet and subsequently make recommendations at additional times as determined by a majority of the members.

     (d)  Beginning with fiscal year 2025-2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the office of elections shall include in its annual budget request line-item funding for the advisory committee.  To ensure the continuation of outreach and voter education, the amount of funding requested shall scale proportionally with fulfilled needs and funding requests received by the advisory committee."

     SECTION 3.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $           or      per cent.  This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $10,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the statewide elections accessibility needs advisory committee for information gathering, outreach, and voter education expenses approved by the advisory committee; provided that any funds appropriated pursuant to this Act shall be in addition to and shall not supplant any portion of the base budget of the office of elections.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

 

 

Report Title:

Deaf and Blind Task Force; Office of Elections; Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee; Voter Education; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Office of Elections to annually request funding for the Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee.  Appropriates funds to the Office of Elections Statewide Elections Accessibility Needs Advisory Committee to gather information and provide outreach and voter education services for individuals with accessibility needs.  Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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