BILL NUMBER: AB 346	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 4, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Atkins

                        FEBRUARY 10, 2011

   An act to add Section 12289 to the Elections Code, relating to
polling places.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 346, as amended, Atkins. Polling places  : higher education
campuses  .
   Existing law regulates the establishment of polling places. Under
existing law, the local elections official may request the use of
school buildings as polling places. 
   This bill would require the Secretary of State to conduct a study
to determine whether the establishment of polling places at higher
education campuses would increase student voter election day turnout.
If the Secretary of State determines that the mandatory
establishment of polling places at higher education campuses would
increase student voter election day turnout, this bill would require
the Secretary of State to specify the higher education campuses at
which the establishment of polling places would most increase student
voter election day turnout. This bill would require the Secretary of
State to report its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2013.
 
   This bill would, for elections conducted by a county, require the
county elections official to establish at least one polling place
within the county's electoral jurisdiction on a higher education
campus, as defined, except as specified. By requiring county
elections officials to perform new duties, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.  
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program:  no   yes  .


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 12289 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

   12289.  The Secretary of State shall conduct a study to determine
whether the mandatory establishment of polling places at higher
education campuses would increase student voter election day turnout.
If the Secretary of State determines that the mandatory
establishment of polling places at higher education campuses would
increase student voter election day turnout, the Secretary of State
shall specify the higher education campuses at which the
establishment of polling places would most increase student voter
election day turnout. The Secretary of State shall report its
findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2013.  
   12289.  (a) For elections conducted by a county, the county
elections official shall establish at least one polling place on a
higher education campus located within the electoral jurisdiction of
the county. This section does not apply to a county elective official
of a county that does not have a higher education campus within its
jurisdiction.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "higher education campus" means
the campus of a community college, the California State University,
or the University of California. 
   SEC. 2.    If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.