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S. B. No. 146 As IntroducedAs Introduced
130th General Assembly | Regular Session | 2013-2014 |
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Cosponsors:
Senators Sawyer, Kearney
A BILL
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.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
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.
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