BILL NUMBER: AB 1443	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  347
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 31, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 17, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 23, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

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, 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 have demonstrated language accessibility
experience, have knowledge of methods for presenting election
materials, or are county elections officials or their designee. The
bill would require the Secretary of State to consult with and
consider the recommendations of the committee.


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 have demonstrated language
accessibility 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, or be a county
elections official or his or her designee. 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.