To amend section 4501.023 of the Revised Code to revise the requirements for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles voter registration training program and to create the Motor Voter Act Study Committee.

Section 1. That section 4501.023 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 4501.023.  (A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall designate an employee of the bureau of motor vehicles to be in charge of and responsible for voter registration within the bureau. Each deputy registrar of motor vehicles shall designate an employee in that deputy registrar's office to be in charge of and responsible for voter registration within that office.

(B) The registrar shall provide, in cooperation with the secretary of state, a voter registration training program and materials for initial training in voter registration and for ongoing training for all deputy registrars, and their all employees of the registrar or of a deputy registrar, who interact with individuals who are applying for or renewing driver's licenses or identification cards issued under Chapter 4507. of the Revised Code.

Each such deputy registrar shall complete the training program not more than three months after the deputy registrar enters into the deputy registrar's first contract with the registrar and not less than once annually thereafter. Each such employee shall complete the training program not more than three months after beginning employment and not less than once annually thereafter. A deputy registrar or employee who holds that position as of the date this division applies to that person shall complete the training program not more than one year after that date and not less than once annually thereafter.

This division applies to a deputy registrar and that deputy registrar's employees only after the deputy registrar enters into a new contract with the registrar after the effective date of this amendment.

(C) The registrar shall report to the secretary of state at least once annually the number of applicants for licenses served and the number of voter registration transactions completed and transmitted to the board of elections by the registrar and all deputy registrars.

Section 2.  That existing section 4501.023 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Section 3.  (A) There is hereby created the Motor Voter Act Study Committee, consisting of eight members. Two members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and two members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The Committee shall elect from among its members a co-chairperson from the House of Representatives and a co-chairperson from the Senate, neither of whom shall be from the same political party. The Committee shall hold a minimum of three public meetings.

(B) The Committee shall do all of the following:

(1) Study whether Ohio is in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, also known as the Motor Voter Act;

(2) Determine whether Ohio is complying with its duties under the Motor Voter Act and otherwise is in compliance with the Act, and if Ohio is not in compliance, determine whether that lack of compliance jeopardizes federal funding that assists with elections in Ohio;

(3) Determine whether Ohio, through the Secretary of State, county election officials, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and deputy registrars, is meeting its obligation under federal and state law to offer voter registration to every person who engages in a transaction with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or a deputy registrar;

(4) Determine whether funding levels of the Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles are adequate to comply with the Motor Voter Act;

(5) Compare the rates of voter registration at offices of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and deputy registrars among and within counties in Ohio and among Ohio and other states;

(6) Use resources such as census data, U.S. Election Assistance Commission reports, and other data to evaluate how Ohio compares with other states in terms of pro-active voter registration efforts, dedication of resources to voter registration, and compliance with the Motor Voter Act;

(7) Formulate recommendations as to how Ohio may improve its voter registration process and carry out the purpose of the Motor Voter Act, to promote the exercise of the fundamental right to vote;

(8) Make recommendations to the General Assembly relative to the measures that can be taken to improve voter registration efforts through the offices of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and deputy registrars.

(C) The Committee shall consult with and receive input from voters, voting rights advocates, county election officials, state election officials from the office of the Secretary of State, officials from the Department of Public Safety and Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and deputy registrars.

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Secretary of State, county boards of elections, and deputy registrars shall cooperate with the Committee and make records from their respective offices available to the Committee in a prompt manner, and shall not hinder the Committee in the performance of its duties.

(D) The Committee shall compile a report containing its findings and recommendations, and not later than October 1, 2013, shall furnish a copy of its report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. After the reports have been so distributed, the Committee shall cease to exist.