BILL NUMBER: AB 1525	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  541
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 11, 2009
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 11, 2009
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 25, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 9, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Beall
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Harkey)

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to amend Section 15620 of the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1525, Beall. Elections: recounts.
   Existing law permits a voter to request a recount in an election,
other than a statewide election, within 5 days after the election
date by filing a request with the elections officials who conducted
the election.
   This bill would permit a voter to request a recount in an election
conducted in more than one county, but not statewide, within 5 days
beginning on the 29th day after the election.
   Because the bill would change duties of local elections officials,
it would impose a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 15620 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

   15620.  Following completion of the official canvass, any voter
may, within five days thereafter, file with the elections official
responsible for conducting an election in the county wherein the
recount is sought a written request for a recount of the votes cast
for candidates for any office, for slates of presidential electors,
or for or against any measure, provided the office, slate, or measure
is not voted on statewide. The request shall specify on behalf of
which candidate, slate of electors, or position on a measure
(affirmative or negative) it is filed.
   If an election is conducted in more than one county, the request
for the recount may be filed by any voter within five days, beginning
on the 29th day after the election, with the elections official of,
and the recount may be conducted within, any or all of the affected
counties.
   For the purposes of this section, "completion of the canvass"
shall be presumed to be that time when the elections official signs
the certified statement of the results of the election except that,
in the case of a city election, if a city council canvasses the
returns itself and does not order the elections official to conduct
the canvass as permitted by Section 10263, "completion of the canvass"
shall be presumed to be that time when the governing body declares
the persons elected or the measures approved or defeated.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.