Alabama 2023 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB521 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HB521INTRODUCED
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3	3	7YG92E-1
4	4	By Representative Simpson
5	5	RFD: Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
6	6	First Read: 24-May-23
7	7	2023 Regular Session
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12	12	5 7YG92E-1 05/24/2023 PMG (L)tgw 2023-2083
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14	14	SYNOPSIS:
15	15	There is no provision in state law that provides
16	16	for political party registration.
17	17	This bill would authorize the Secretary of State
18	18	to create a form posted on its website to allow
19	19	residents of voting age to register a political party
20	20	affiliation with the Secretary of State.
21	21	This bill would authorize the Secretary of State
22	22	to provide a political party with a list of registrants
23	23	with that political party under certain circumstances.
24	24	This bill would provide for criminal penalties
25	25	for violations.
26	26	This bill would be repealed on January 1, 2027.
27	27	Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of
28	28	2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect
29	29	would be to require a new or increased expenditure of
30	30	local funds from becoming effective with regard to a
31	31	local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3
32	32	vote unless: it comes within one of a number of
33	33	specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected
34	34	entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or
35	35	provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for
36	36	the purpose.
37	37	The purpose or effect of this bill would be to
38	38	require a new or increased expenditure of local funds
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66	66	28 HB521 INTRODUCEDHB521 INTRODUCED
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68	68	within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill
69	69	does not require approval of a local governmental
70	70	entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective
71	71	because it comes within one of the specified exceptions
72	72	contained in the amendment.
73	73	A BILL
74	74	TO BE ENTITLED
75	75	AN ACT
76	76	Relating to voting; to authorize the Secretary of State
77	77	to offer certain state residents the ability to register their
78	78	political party affiliation and provide a list of party
79	79	registrants to a political party in certain circumstances; to
80	80	provide criminal penalties for violations; to provide for the
81	81	repeal of this act on a certain date; and in connection
82	82	therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement
83	83	of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the
84	84	meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of
85	85	2022.
86	86	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
87	87	Section 1. (a) The Secretary of State may offer on its
88	88	website a form to allow residents of this state who are 18
89	89	years of age or older to register their political party
90	90	affiliation by completing, signing, and returning the form to
91	91	the Secretary of State.
92	92	(b) Any individual who knowingly completes or signs the
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122	122	form described in subsection (a) on behalf of another
123	123	individual commits the crime of tampering with governmental
124	124	records in violation of Section 13A-10-12, Code of Alabama
125	125	1975.
126	126	(c) Upon request, the Secretary of State, not more than
127	127	four times per calendar year, may provide a political party
128	128	with a list of all individuals registered with that political
129	129	party.
130	130	(d) The Secretary of State may adopt rules to implement
131	131	this section.
132	132	(e) For purposes of this section, political party means
133	133	a political party described in Section 17-13-40, Code of
134	134	Alabama 1975.
135	135	(f) This section is repealed on January 1, 2027.
136	136	Section 2. Although this bill would have as its purpose
137	137	or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of
138	138	local funds, the bill is excluded from further requirements
139	139	and application under Section 111.05 of the Constitution of
140	140	Alabama of 2022, because the bill defines a new crime or
141	141	amends the definition of an existing crime.
142	142	Section 3. This act shall become effective on the first
143	143	day of the third month following its passage and approval by
144	144	the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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