BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2243 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 9, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 2243 (Weber) - As Introduced: February 21, 2014 Policy Committee: Public SafetyVote: 5-1 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill requires the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to either (1) establish and maintain on the department's website a link to the Secretary of State's voting rights guide for incarcerated persons, or (2) post in each parole office where parolees are seen, a notice that contains the website address for the Secretary of State's voting rights guide for incarcerated persons. FISCAL EFFECT Negligible. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . This bill is intended to ensure that persons involved in the criminal justice system are given accurate information about their voting rights and are afforded the opportunity to participate in the civic life of their communities. 2)Current law specifies that to be eligible to vote, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of California, not in prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony, not deemed mentally incompetent, and at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election. Current law also requires the facility administrator of a local jail to develop written policies and procedures whereby the county registrar of voters allows qualified voters to vote in local, state, and federal elections. Similarly, when an AB 2243 Page 2 inmate or parolee is released from the custody of CDCR, that person is given a Certificate of Discharge, which includes the following statement: "An ex-felon becomes eligible to vote after being discharged from parole. You may obtain a Voter Registration Card by contacting the Elections Division of the California Secretary of State's Office at (800) 345-VOTE (800-345-8683)." 3)Prior Legislation : AB 149 (Weber), Statutes of 2013, requires each county probation department to either (1) establish and maintain on the department's website a link to the Secretary of State's voting rights guide for incarcerated persons, or (2) post in each probation office where probationers are seen, a notice that contains the website address for the Secretary of State's voting rights guide for incarcerated persons. Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081