Amended in Senate August 17, 2015

Amended in Senate June 23, 2015

Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1443

Introduced by Assembly Member Chau

February 27, 2015

An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 2600) to Division 2 of the Elections Code, relating to voters.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1443, as amended, Chau. Voters: language accessibility.

Existing law establishes the Secretary of State as the chief elections officer of the state and requires that he or she ensure that elections are efficiently conducted and that state election laws are enforced. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, should be encouraged to vote and that appropriate efforts should be made to minimize obstacles to voting by citizens who lack sufficient skill in English to vote without assistance.

This bill would require the Secretary of State to establish a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee. The committee would consist of at least 15 members and would include the Secretary of State, his or her designees, and additional members appointed by the Secretary of State who begin delete either end delete have demonstrated language accessibility begin delete experience for languages covered under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 end delete begin insert experience, have knowledge of methods for presenting election materials, end insert or are county elections begin delete officials. end delete begin insert officials or their designee. end insert The bill would require the Secretary of State to consult with and consider the recommendations of the committee.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 2600) is
added to Division 2 of the Elections Code, to read:

 

Chapter  8. Language Accessibility

 

2600.  

The Secretary of State shall establish a Language
Accessibility Advisory Committee which shall meet no less than
four times each calendar year. The committee shall consist of no
less than fifteen members and be comprised of the Secretary of
State and his or her designee or designees and additional members
appointed by the Secretary of State. The appointees shall begin delete either end delete
have demonstrated language accessibility begin delete experience for languages
covered under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C.
Sec. 10101 et seq.) end delete begin insert experience, have knowledge of presenting
election materials to voters using plain language methods or
another method that is easy for voters to access and understand, end insert
or be a county elections begin delete official. end delete begin insert official or his or her designee. end insert At
least three county elections officials shall be appointed to the
committee. The Secretary of State shall consult with and consider
the recommendations of the committee. The committee shall serve
in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of State.