04/21/1998 08:17 AM House STA

HB 257 - VOTING & ELECTIONS                                                    
                                                                               
Number 0057                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIR JAMES announced the next order of business is HB 257, "An Act            
relating to voter qualification, disqualification, and                         
registration; to voter registration officials; to election notices;            
to mail elections; to certain voting procedures; to the                        
transportation of ballots; and to the official election pamphlet               
and certain immunity from liability regarding claims arising from              
publication of the official election pamphlet."                                
                                                                               
Number 0060                                                                    
                                                                               
GAIL FENUMIAI, Election Coordinator, Division of Elections, Office             
of the Lieutenant Governor, came forward to explain the technical              
changes that need to be made in HB 257.  She said, "The Committee              
Substitute that is before you, was heard at a hearing, I believe it            
was two weeks ago.  When it was taken to Legislative Legal                     
[Services] for official drafting of the CS, there were a couple of             
technical changes that needed to be made and that's what we would              
like to present to you.  I believe everybody has a copy of an                  
amendment sheet...  It merely changes the manner in which the title            
is written.  The drafter at Legislative Legal Services felt this               
better covered the scope of the intent of the bill.  There was a               
section that was omitted in the original draft of the bill -                   
changing the word 'question' to 'special review' so that is added."            
                                                                               
Number 0068                                                                    
                                                                               
GAIL FENUMIAI concluded, "In order to clarify what type of testing             
that the State Review Board would be doing of the ballot counting              
equipment, we we're including, to add in there, in accordance with             
the regulations adopted, because testing procedures - so that means            
it would be detailed out in regulation.  That's the effect of this             
proposed amendment."                                                           
                                                                               
     Page 1, lines 1-4:                                                        
          Delete all material and insert:                                      
                                                                               
     An Act relating to voter qualification, disqualification, and             
     registration; relating to voter registration officials and                
     election personnel; relating to election notices; relating to             
     mail elections; relating to certain election procedures;                  
     relating to transportation of ballots; and relating to the                
     official election pamphlet.                                               
                                                                               
     Page 4, line 24:                                                          
          Delete (a)                                                           
                                                                               
     Sec. 13 AS 15.15.198(a) is amended to read:                               
                                                                               
     Page 4, line 25:                                                          
          Insert before "(a)":                                                 
                                                                               
     Sec. 15.15.198. Voter not on official registration list.                  
                                                                               
     Page 4, following line 28:                                                
          Insert:                                                              
                                                                               
     (b) A person whose registration is inactive under AS                      
     15.07.130(b) and who votes a special review [QUESTIONED] or               
     absentee ballot shall have the ballot counted if                          
                                                                               
          (1) the person was registered to vote for either of the              
          two most recent general elections;                                   
                                                                               
          (2) the person signs a statement to that effect; and                 
                                                                               
          (3) the earlier registration is verified by the director.            
                                                                               
     Page 15, line 8:                                                          
          After "accuracy":                                                    
          Insert:                                                              
                                                                               
     in accordance with the regulations adopted under (a) of this              
     section                                                                   
                                                                               
CHAIR JAMES noted for the record Representative Elton is present.              
                                                                               
CHAIR JAMES asked for a motion to adopt Amendment 1.                           
                                                                               
Number 0076                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN made a motion to adopt Amendment 1.  There                 
being no objections, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                  
                                                                               
Number 0079                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN made a motion to move CSHB 257(STA), with                  
individual recommendation and attached zero fiscal note.  There                
being no objections, CSHB 257(STA) moved from the House State                  
Affairs Standing Committee.