BILL NUMBER: AB 346AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 4, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Atkins FEBRUARY 10, 2011 An act to add Section 12289 to the Elections Code, relating to polling places. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 346, as amended, Atkins. Polling places : higher education campuses . Existing law regulates the establishment of polling places. Under existing law, the local elections official may request the use of school buildings as polling places.This bill would require the Secretary of State to conduct a study to determine whether the establishment of polling places at higher education campuses would increase student voter election day turnout. If the Secretary of State determines that the mandatory establishment of polling places at higher education campuses would increase student voter election day turnout, this bill would require the Secretary of State to specify the higher education campuses at which the establishment of polling places would most increase student voter election day turnout. This bill would require the Secretary of State to report its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2013.This bill would, for elections conducted by a county, require the county elections official to establish at least one polling place within the county's electoral jurisdiction on a higher education campus, as defined, except as specified. By requiring county elections officials to perform new duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program:noyes . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 12289 is added to the Elections Code, to read:12289. The Secretary of State shall conduct a study to determine whether the mandatory establishment of polling places at higher education campuses would increase student voter election day turnout. If the Secretary of State determines that the mandatory establishment of polling places at higher education campuses would increase student voter election day turnout, the Secretary of State shall specify the higher education campuses at which the establishment of polling places would most increase student voter election day turnout. The Secretary of State shall report its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2013.12289. (a) For elections conducted by a county, the county elections official shall establish at least one polling place on a higher education campus located within the electoral jurisdiction of the county. This section does not apply to a county elective official of a county that does not have a higher education campus within its jurisdiction. (b) For purposes of this section, "higher education campus" means the campus of a community college, the California State University, or the University of California. SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.