BILL NUMBER: AB 547	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 7, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 31, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gatto

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   An act to add Section 18573.5 to the Elections Code, relating to
voting.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 547, as amended, Gatto. Voting.
   Existing law permits a voter who is unable to mark a ballot to
receive the assistance of not more than 2 persons, selected by the
voter, at a polling place. In addition, existing law 
prohibits electioneering, as defined, at a polling place, and further
 imposes criminal penalties on specified activities that
interfere with another person's right to vote, including defrauding a
voter who cannot read the ballot by deceiving and causing him or her
to vote for a candidate that he or she did not intend to vote for.
   This bill would provide that a person is guilty of a misdemeanor
 if he or she engages in electioneering at a polling place
while serving as an interpreter or otherwise assisting a voter to
vote, or  if he or she, while providing care or direct
supervision to an individual 65 years of age or older, coerces or
deceives the individual into voting for or against a candidate or
measure contrary to the individual's intent or in the absence of any
intent of the individual regarding that vote.
   This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating
 an  additional  crimes   crime  .

   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 no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 18573.5 is added to the Elections Code, to
read:
   18573.5.  Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor  who
does either of the following:  
   (a) Engages in electioneering at a polling place while serving as
an interpreter or otherwise assisting a voter pursuant to Section
14282. 
    (b)     While 
 who, while  providing care or direct supervision to an
individual who is 65 years of age or older, coerces or deceives the
individual into voting for or against a candidate or measure contrary
to the individual's intent or in the absence of any intent of the
individual regarding that vote.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.