BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     AB 683


                                                                    Page  1


          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS


          AB  
          683 (Low)


          As Amended  June 23, 2015


          Majority vote


           -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |ASSEMBLY:  | 76-0 | (May 26,      |SENATE: |40-0  | (August 31,     |
          |           |      |2015)          |        |      |2015)            |
          |           |      |               |        |      |                 |
          |           |      |               |        |      |                 |
           -------------------------------------------------------------------- 


          Original Committee Reference:  E. & R.


          SUMMARY:  Requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to establish a  
          Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) to make  
          recommendations related to improving the accessibility of  
          elections for voters with disabilities, as specified.   
          Specifically, this bill:


          1)Requires the SOS to establish a VAAC.  Requires the SOS to  
            consult with the VAAC and consider the VAAC's recommendations  
            related to improving the accessibility of elections for voters  
            with disabilities.  Permits the SOS to implement the VAAC's  
            recommendations as he or she deems appropriate.


          2)Requires the VAAC to consist of the SOS, his or her designee,  
            and additional members appointed by the SOS.  Requires the  
            appointees to have demonstrated experience with accessibility  
            requirements for voters with disabilities or be a county  








                                                                     AB 683


                                                                    Page  2


            elections official.


          3)Requires the VAAC to serve in an advisory capacity to the SOS,  
            as specified.  


          4)Requires the online version of the state ballot pamphlet to  
            meet or exceed the most current, ratified standards under  
            Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29  
            United States Code Section 794d), as amended, and the Web  
            Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 adopted by the  
            World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility.  


          5)Requires county and city elections officials that make the  
            sample ballot, voter pamphlet, notice of polling place and  
            associated materials accessible on the county's or city's  
            Internet Web site to meet or exceed the most current, ratified  
            standards under Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act  
            of 1973 (29 United States Code Section 794d), as amended, and  
            the WCAG 2.0.


          6)Makes conforming and technical changes


          The Senate amendments:


          1)Require the VAAC, in its advisory capacity to the SOS, to do  
            the following: 


             a)   Establish subcommittees to further the scope and  
               purposes of the VAAC as they relate to improving voter  
               services and access for individuals with disabilities,  
               including, but not limited to, visually impaired voters,  
               and deaf or hard of hearing voters;


             b)   Promote the use of plain language and alternative  








                                                                     AB 683


                                                                    Page  3


               formats for election materials; and,


             c)   Make recommendations for materials to train poll workers  
               on issues related to serving voters with disabilities and  
               providing accessible voting locations. 


          2)Make conforming and technical changes.


          EXISTING LAW:


          1)Requires the SOS to produce an audio recorded version of the  
            state ballot pamphlet.  Requires the audio recorded version to  
            be made available in quantities to be determined by the SOS  
            and contain information concerning each statewide measure, as  
            specified.


          2)Requires the SOS to make available the complete state ballot  
            pamphlet over the Internet.  Requires the online version of  
            the state ballot pamphlet to contain certain voter  
            information, as specified.


          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.  



          COMMENTS:  According to the author, "In 2010, legislation was  
          passed to allow county and city officials to provide election  
          information in an electronic format via email or by making them  
          accessible on their internet web site.  While some counties and  
          cities have adopted this process, election information provided  
          electronically is not always accessible for voters with  
          disabilities.  Audio recordings of voter pamphlets or sample  
          ballots are sometimes available but there is little, if any,  
          candidate information available in an accessible format.  This  
          is particularly true for local elections where candidate  








                                                                     AB 683


                                                                    Page  4


          information or ballot issues are not always accessible.  AB 683  
          will require the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC)  
          to provide the Secretary of State with recommendations on making  
          election information and the election process more accessible  
          for voters with disabilities?"


          The Senate amendments expand the duties of the VAAC and make  
          other technical changes.  Specifically, the amendments require  
          the VAAC to establish subcommittees to further the scope and  
          purposes of the VAAC as they relate to improving voter services  
          and access for individuals with disabilities, as specified,  
          promote the use of plain language and alternative formats for  
          election materials, and make recommendations for materials to  
          train poll workers on issues related to serving voters with  
          disabilities and providing accessible voting locations.  This  
          bill, as amended in the Senate, is consistent with the Assembly  
          actions.  


          Analysis Prepared by:                        Nichole Becker / E.  
          & R. / (916) 319-2094                          FN: 0001454