BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 683
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
683 (Low)
As Amended June 23, 2015
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | 76-0 | (May 26, |SENATE: |40-0 | (August 31, |
| | |2015) | | |2015) |
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Original Committee Reference: E. & R.
SUMMARY: Requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to establish a
Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) to make
recommendations related to improving the accessibility of
elections for voters with disabilities, as specified.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the SOS to establish a VAAC. Requires the SOS to
consult with the VAAC and consider the VAAC's recommendations
related to improving the accessibility of elections for voters
with disabilities. Permits the SOS to implement the VAAC's
recommendations as he or she deems appropriate.
2)Requires the VAAC to consist of the SOS, his or her designee,
and additional members appointed by the SOS. Requires the
appointees to have demonstrated experience with accessibility
requirements for voters with disabilities or be a county
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elections official.
3)Requires the VAAC to serve in an advisory capacity to the SOS,
as specified.
4)Requires the online version of the state ballot pamphlet to
meet or exceed the most current, ratified standards under
Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
United States Code Section 794d), as amended, and the Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 adopted by the
World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility.
5)Requires county and city elections officials that make the
sample ballot, voter pamphlet, notice of polling place and
associated materials accessible on the county's or city's
Internet Web site to meet or exceed the most current, ratified
standards under Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 (29 United States Code Section 794d), as amended, and
the WCAG 2.0.
6)Makes conforming and technical changes
The Senate amendments:
1)Require the VAAC, in its advisory capacity to the SOS, to do
the following:
a) Establish subcommittees to further the scope and
purposes of the VAAC as they relate to improving voter
services and access for individuals with disabilities,
including, but not limited to, visually impaired voters,
and deaf or hard of hearing voters;
b) Promote the use of plain language and alternative
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formats for election materials; and,
c) Make recommendations for materials to train poll workers
on issues related to serving voters with disabilities and
providing accessible voting locations.
2)Make conforming and technical changes.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires the SOS to produce an audio recorded version of the
state ballot pamphlet. Requires the audio recorded version to
be made available in quantities to be determined by the SOS
and contain information concerning each statewide measure, as
specified.
2)Requires the SOS to make available the complete state ballot
pamphlet over the Internet. Requires the online version of
the state ballot pamphlet to contain certain voter
information, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "In 2010, legislation was
passed to allow county and city officials to provide election
information in an electronic format via email or by making them
accessible on their internet web site. While some counties and
cities have adopted this process, election information provided
electronically is not always accessible for voters with
disabilities. Audio recordings of voter pamphlets or sample
ballots are sometimes available but there is little, if any,
candidate information available in an accessible format. This
is particularly true for local elections where candidate
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information or ballot issues are not always accessible. AB 683
will require the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC)
to provide the Secretary of State with recommendations on making
election information and the election process more accessible
for voters with disabilities?"
The Senate amendments expand the duties of the VAAC and make
other technical changes. Specifically, the amendments require
the VAAC to establish subcommittees to further the scope and
purposes of the VAAC as they relate to improving voter services
and access for individuals with disabilities, as specified,
promote the use of plain language and alternative formats for
election materials, and make recommendations for materials to
train poll workers on issues related to serving voters with
disabilities and providing accessible voting locations. This
bill, as amended in the Senate, is consistent with the Assembly
actions.
Analysis Prepared by: Nichole Becker / E.
& R. / (916) 319-2094 FN: 0001454