BILL NUMBER: AB 1443	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	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  or are county elections
officials. 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.   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.)
 or be a county elections official.  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.