BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1143
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1143 (Hadley) - As Amended May 5, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), when a
taxpayer whose annual personal income tax return indicates a
change of address from the prior year, to provide a notification
card to the taxpayer informing them that they may register to
AB 1143
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vote or update their registration information through the
Secretary of State's online voter registration.
FISCAL EFFECT:
The annual cost just for postage will be $850,000 [General
Fund]. FTB indicates that it receives approximately 2.5 million
individual income tax returns annually with an address different
from prior year's return. Additional FTB administrative costs
are undetermined at this time.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, "A healthy democracy depends
upon the informed consent of the governed. By offering voter
registration forms to California taxpayers who have indicated
a change of address, AB 1143 also aims to increase voter
participation by reaching out to those who are already
participating in the governmental process: the taxpayers who
keep the Golden State running."
2)National Voting Registration Act (NVRA). The NVRA was enacted
by Congress in 1993 and took effect in 1995. The enactment of
the NVRA was intended to enhance and increase voting
opportunities for eligible voters to register to vote and
maintain their registration. In addition to other methods of
voter registrations states offer, the NVRA requires states to
provide the opportunity to apply to register to vote for
federal elections through various methods. Section 5 of the
NVRA requires states to offer voter registration opportunities
at motor vehicle agencies. Section 7 of the NVRA requires
states to designate "other offices" within the state as voter
registration agencies.
AB 1143
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In August 1994, Governor Pete Wilson issued an executive order
establishing the list of NVRA registration agencies that
included FTB district offices. As a registration agency, the
FTB must offer each person who comes into contact with the
agency the opportunity to complete a voter preference form,
which is required to be kept on file with the agency for two
years.
SB 35 (Padilla), Chapter 505, Statutes of 2012, established
guidelines to ensure compliance of all NVRA designated
agencies in the state. As a result, county elections
officials are required to report to the Secretary of State
(SOS) monthly on the number of voter registration cards
received from each voter registration agency, and the SOS is
required to post the information contained in each report on
its website. Between March 2014 and February 2015 there were
53 voter registration cards received from the FTB.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081