BILL NUMBER: AB 1443	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 17, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 23, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chau

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 2600) to Division
2 of the Elections Code, relating to voters.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1443, as amended, Chau.  Voters: language accessibility.
   Existing law establishes the Secretary of State as the chief
elections officer of the state and requires that he or she ensure
that elections are efficiently conducted and that state election laws
are enforced. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature
that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, should
be encouraged to vote and that appropriate efforts should be made to
minimize obstacles to voting by citizens who lack sufficient skill in
English to vote without assistance.
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to establish a
Language Accessibility Advisory Committee. The committee would
consist of at least 15 members and would include the Secretary of
State, his or her designees, and additional members appointed by the
Secretary of State who  either  have demonstrated
language accessibility  experience for languages covered
under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965  
experience, have knowledge of methods for presenting election
materials,  or are county elections  officials.
  officials or their designee.  The bill would
require the Secretary of State to consult with and consider the
recommendations of the committee.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 2600) is added to
Division 2 of the Elections Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 8.  LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY


   2600.  The Secretary of State shall establish a Language
Accessibility Advisory Committee which shall meet no less than four
times each calendar year. The committee shall consist of no less than
fifteen members and be comprised of the Secretary of State and his
or her designee or designees and additional members appointed by the
Secretary of State. The appointees shall  either 
have demonstrated language accessibility  experience for
languages covered under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52
U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.)   experience, have knowledge
of presenting election materials to voters using plain language
methods or another method that is easy for voters to access and
understand,  or be a county elections  official.
  official or his or her designee.  At least three
county elections officials shall be appointed to the committee. The
Secretary of State shall consult with and consider the
recommendations of the committee. The committee shall serve in an
advisory capacity to the Secretary of State.