BILL NUMBER: AB 554	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mullin
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonta)
   (Coauthors: Senators Allen, Block, and Leno)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2015

   An act to amend Section 12302 of the Elections Code, relating to
elections.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 554, as introduced, Mullin. Elections: precinct board members.
   Existing law requires that each member of a precinct board be a
voter of the county, except that an elections official may appoint
not more than 5 pupils per precinct to serve under the direct
supervision of designated board members, as specified. Among other
qualifications, such a pupil must be a United States citizen or be a
citizen at the time of the election for which he or she is serving as
a member of the precinct board.
   This bill would additionally authorize an elections official to
appoint a pupil who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in
the United States, as defined in federal law, to serve as a precinct
board member.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 12302 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

   12302.  (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), a
member of a precinct board shall be a voter of the state. The member
may serve only in the precinct for which his or her appointment is
received.
   (b) (1) In order to provide for a greater awareness of the
elections process, the rights and responsibilities of voters, and the
importance of participating in the electoral process, as well as to
provide additional members of precinct boards, an elections official
may appoint not more than five pupils per precinct to serve under the
direct supervision of precinct board members designated by the
elections official. A pupil may be appointed, notwithstanding his or
her lack of eligibility to vote, subject to the approval of the
governing board of the educational institution in which the pupil is
enrolled, if the pupil possesses the following qualifications:
   (A) Is at least 16 years of age at the time of the election for
which he or she is serving as a member of a precinct board.
   (B) Is a United States citizen  or   , 
will be a citizen at the time of the election for which he or she is
serving as a member of a precinct board  , or is lawfully
admitted for permanent residence in the United States, as defined in
Section 101(a)(20) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(20))  .
   (C) Is a pupil in good standing attending a public or private
secondary educational institution.
   (D) Is a pupil who has a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a
4.0 scale.
   (2) A pupil appointed pursuant to this subdivision may not be used
by a precinct board to tally votes.
   (c) (1) In order to promote civic engagement among residents of
the state and to provide additional members of precinct boards, an
elections official may appoint not more than five nonvoters per
precinct to serve as precinct board members. A nonvoter may be
appointed, notwithstanding his or her lack of eligibility to vote, if
the nonvoter possesses the following qualifications:
   (A) Is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United
States, as defined in Section 101(a)(20) of the federal Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(20)).
   (B) Is otherwise eligible to register to vote pursuant to Section
2101 except for his or her lack of United States citizenship.
   (2) A nonvoter appointed to a precinct board pursuant to this
subdivision shall not be permitted to do either of the following:
   (A) Serve as, or perform any of the duties of, the inspector of a
precinct board.
   (B) Tally votes for the precinct board.