Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/26/2002 11:10 AM Senate RLS
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
February 26, 2002
11:10 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Randy Phillips, Chair
Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair
Senator Rick Halford
Senator Gene Therriault
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
All Members Present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 320 am
"An Act relating to the use of electronic balloting equipment."
APPROVED FOR CALENDARING
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
HB 320 - No previous committee action.
WITNESS REGISTER
Representative Joe Green
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Prime sponsor of HB 320.
Russ Kelly
Intern to Senator Leman
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Noted Senator Leman's support of HB 320.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-3, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS called the Senate Rules Committee meeting
to order at 11:10 a.m. Senators Cowdery, Ellis and Phillips were
present. The committee took up HB 320.
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN, prime sponsor of HB 320-ELECTRONIC
BALLOTING EQUIPMENT, explained that the purpose of HB 320 is to
purchase equipment that will allow sight-impaired voters privacy
in the polling place. Rather than have a second person read the
ballot to the voter and mark it, voting equipment will be sound
activated so that the voter can listen to and mark the ballot
electronically. HB 320 does not require the Division of Election
to purchase the equipment now, it merely provides that when
existing equipment needs to be replaced, it purchase equipment
with this ability. This equipment has been used very successfully
in Harris County, Texas for several years.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN noted HB 320 was amended on the House floor
to reflect a similar bill introduced by Senator Leman. The
amendment expanded the bill to purchase equipment that provides
privacy for not only sight-impaired, but for other handicapped
voters.
SENATOR ELLIS said Darryl Nelson from Eagle River advocated at
the Anchorage Caucus for changes for other voters with
disabilities. He thanked Representative Green for accepting that
change to the bill.
SENATOR COWDERY asked how long this equipment has been used in
Harris County.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said he believes it has been used for a few
years, between three and five. The same group that presented the
equipment to the House State Affairs Committee presented it to
the Texas Legislature but the latest equipment differs a little
from what is being used in Texas. The equipment is about the size
of a laptop computer and has three dials with which to hear the
ballot, make a choice, and make changes.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if the equipment is user friendly for
people who are not computer literate.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it is.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that all committee members were
present.
MR. RUSS KELLY, intern for Senator Leman, informed members that
he worked closely with Representative Green's staff on SB 258,
the companion bill to HB 320. Senator Leman is comfortable with
HB 320 as amended and supports it.
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if the bill has a new the fiscal note.
An indiscernible response was made.
SENATOR COWDERY moved to approve HB 320 am with the House fiscal
note for calendaring at the Chair's discretion.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that with no opposition, HB 320 am
will be placed on tomorrow's calendar. There being no further
business to come before the committee, he adjourned the meeting
at 11:18 a.m.
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