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.