REFERENCE TITLE: election law; review; commission

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-third Legislature

First Regular Session

2017

 

 

HB 2276

 

Introduced by

Representatives Clark: Andrade, Salman, Senators Bowie, Mendez, Quezada

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending title 16, chapter 1.1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 16-194; relating to elections and electors.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Title 16, chapter 1.1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 16-194, to read:

START_STATUTE16-194.  Election law and administration review commission; membership; duties; report; commission termination

A.  The election law and administration review commission is established to review election administration plans and changes in state election laws and procedures for compliance with the voting rights act of 1965, as amended (P.L. 89-110; 79 Stat. 437; 52 United States Code sections 10101-10702) and with other protections for voters' rights. The election law and administration review commission consists of five members, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. Each member shall be a retired justice of the supreme court or judge of the superior court or court of appeals.

B.  Appointments to the election law and administration review commission shall be made in the order prescribed in this subsection. The highest ranking officer elected by the house of representatives shall make one appointment to the election law and administration review commission, followed by one appointment made in turn by the minority party leader of the house of representatives, the highest ranking officer elected by the senate and the minority party leader of the senate.  If there are two or more minority parties within the house of representatives or the senate, the leader of the largest minority party by statewide party registration shall make the appointment.

C.  At a meeting called by the secretary of state, the four election law and administration review commission members shall select by majority vote a fifth member who shall not be registered with any party already represented on the election law and administration review commission and who shall serve as chairperson. The five commissioners shall then select by majority vote one of their members to serve as vice chairperson.

D.  The election law and administration review commission shall meet at least annually and shall review proposed or recently enacted changes to election laws and procedures, including changes in administering elections, and shall consider whether those laws and procedures comply with the voting rights act of 1965, as amended (P.L. 89-101; 79 Stat. 437; 52 United States Code section 10101-10702) and whether they affect other constitutional or statutorily established rights to vote. The election law and administration review commission shall submit its findings including any recommendations to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives by December 15 each year and shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.

E.  The department of administration shall provide for staff support for the election law and administration review commission.

F.  The commission established by this section ends on July 1, 2025 pursuant to section 41-3103. END_STATUTE