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