BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 214 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 10, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 214 (Skinner) - As Amended: April 2, 2013 Policy Committee: ElectionsVote:5-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop and publish guidelines for voting in the event of a natural disaster or other state of emergency. Specifically, this bill requires the SOS, by December 31, 2014, to: 1)Consult with county elections officials and establish the procedures, and publish the guidelines on the SOS website. 2)Report to the Legislature on the state's readiness to conduct elections during or following a natural disaster or other state of emergency. FISCAL EFFECT One-time GF costs to the SOS of about $125,000 for a half-time attorney position to conduct research, consult with counties, develop and publish the procedures and guidelines, and complete the report to the Legislature. COMMENTS Purpose . Hurricane Sandy, which struck the Northeast on October 29, 2012-just eight days before the November general election-focused attention on the preparedness of state and local governments to conduct elections in the event of a natural disaster. Given California's susceptibility to such events, the author believes that the guidelines developed through AB 214 will help ensure that citizens' voting rights are not hindered by a natural disaster. Twelve other states have emergency response laws authorizing AB 214 Page 2 election contingency plans in the event of an emergency, and Alabama and Oklahoma also have similar legislation pending this year. Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081