BILL NUMBER: AB 288	CHAPTERED  10/11/07

	CHAPTER  491
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 11, 2007
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 11, 2007
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 5, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 28, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 10, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Price
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Adams, Beall, Dymally, Jeffries,
Krekorian, Mendoza, and Tran)
   (Coauthor: Senator Scott)

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2007

   An act to add Sections 18547 and 18548 to the Elections Code,
relating to elections.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 288, Price. Voter intimidation: Voter Intimidation Restitution
Fund.
   Existing law prohibits certain activities intended to compel a
person to vote or dissuade a person from voting. Violation of these
provisions is a felony.
   This bill would authorize a court to order any person convicted of
violating this prohibition to also pay a restitution fine, in an
amount determined by the court, to be deposited in the Voter
Intimidation Restitution Fund created by this bill. The bill would,
upon appropriation by the Legislature, allocate the money in this
fund to the Secretary of State for purposes of voter education
campaigns that address the specific crime committed by anyone
convicted of violating this prohibition.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 18547 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
   18547.  (a) In addition to any other fine or penalty imposed by
this article, the court may order any person convicted of violating
this article to pay a restitution fine, the amount of which shall be
determined by the court and be commensurate with the seriousness of
the offense.
   (b) The moneys derived from the fine assessed pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall be deposited in the Voter Intimidation
Restitution Fund, created in Section 18548.
  SEC. 2.  Section 18548 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
   18548.  The Voter Intimidation Restitution Fund is hereby
established in the State Treasury. Upon appropriation by the
Legislature, moneys in the fund shall be allocated to the Secretary
of State to be used in voter education campaigns addressing the
specific crime committed by anyone convicted of violating this
article. The funds shall also be used for the administrative costs
associated with distribution of the fund.