Bill Text: CA AB2724 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: High school pupils: voter registration.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-07-02 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. [AB2724 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2724-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 11, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2724

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Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes

February 14, 2024

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An act to amend Section 49041 of, and to add Section 51225.85 to, the Education Code, relating to high school pupils.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2724, as amended, Reyes. High school pupils: voter registration.

(1) Existing law authorizes the administrator of a high school to appoint one or more pupils who are enrolled at that high school to be voter outreach coordinators, as provided.

This bill would require, instead of authorize, the administrator of a high school to appoint one or more pupils who are enrolled at that high school to be voter outreach coordinators, as provided. To the extent that this bill would create new duties for local educational agencies or local officials, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

(2) Existing law requires the course of study for grades 7 through 12, inclusive, with specified exceptions, to be prepared under the direction of the governing board of a school district, subject to approval by the State Board of Education and identifies the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive.

This bill would, commencing with the 2026–27 school year, require the governing board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school to ensure that each of its pupils receives, at least once before the pupil completes grade 11, information on how to properly preregister to vote, as provided. The bill would also require the governing board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school to ensure that a paper copy of a voter registration card is provided to each pupil as part of the adopted course of study. The bill would authorize the governing board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school to contract with a nonpartisan third-party nonprofit organization organization, with demonstrated experience providing nonpartisan youth civic engagement, to implement the requirements of this provision.

(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the High School Voter Registration Act.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Section 49041 of the Education Code is amended to read:

49041.

 (a) The administrator of a high school, or their designee, shall appoint one or more pupils who are enrolled at that high school to be voter outreach coordinators.

(b) A voter outreach coordinator may coordinate voter registration activities on their high school campus that encourage persons who are eligible to register to vote pursuant to Section 2101 of the Elections Code, or other persons who may submit an affidavit of registration pursuant to Section 2102 of the Elections Code, to apply to register to vote by submitting an affidavit of registration on paper or electronically on the internet website of the Secretary of State.

(c) A voter outreach coordinator may, with the approval of the administrator of the high school, or their designee, coordinate election-related activities on their high school campus, including voter registration drives, mock elections, debates, and other election-related pupil outreach activities.

SEC. 2.SEC. 3.

 Section 51225.85 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 51225.8, to read:

51225.85.

 (a) Commencing with the 2026–27 school year, the governing board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school shall ensure that each of its pupils receives, at least once before the pupil completes grade 11, information on how to properly preregister to vote. The manner in which information is provided pursuant to this section shall be at the discretion of the governing board of a school district or the governing body of a charter school and may include information dissemination through in-class instruction, an existing program, family information sessions, or group or individual sessions with school counselors. The information provided shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, material related to all the following:

(1) Voting eligibility and guidance published by the Secretary of State.

(2) Services provided and materials published by the county elections office.

(3) The opportunity to register to vote, which is optional and may be completed at any time including by visiting the Secretary of State’s mobile-friendly online voter registration tool at https://registertovote.ca.gov/.

(4) The Student Poll Worker program.

(b) The governing board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school shall ensure that a paper copy of a voter registration card is provided to each pupil as part of the adopted course of study required by subdivision (b) of Section 51220.

(c) The governing board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school shall ensure that any information shared with parents, guardians, and pupils under this section is handled according to applicable state and federal pupil privacy laws and regulations.

(d) The governing board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school may contract with a nonpartisan third-party nonprofit organization organization, with demonstrated experience providing nonpartisan youth civic engagement, to implement the requirements of this section.

SEC. 3.SEC. 4.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.