Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01515 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 1 of 8
	3	+	LCO No. 6406 1 of 8
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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 1515
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1515
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 6406
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
	11	+	AND ELECTIONS
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(GAE)
8	16
9	17
10	18
11	19
12	20		AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OVERSIGHT.
13	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	22		Assembly convened:
15	23
16	24		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 1
17	25		Municipal Election Accountability Board, which shall be within the 2
18	26		office of the Secretary of the State for administrative purposes only, for 3
19		-	the purposes of (1) reviewing the administration of elections, primaries 4
20		-	and referenda, including the conduct of early voting, absentee voting 5
21		-	and same-day election registration, and the duties of election officials 6
22		-	under title 9 of the general statutes, in municipalities in this state 7
23		-	whenever such municipalities are referred to the board for such review, 8
24		-	(2) overseeing the administration of elections in such municipalities 9
25		-	where necessary, and (3) establishing procedural safeguards for the 10
26		-	effective conduct of such elections, primaries and referenda in such 11
27		-	municipalities. Nothing in this section shall be construed to (A) affect 12
28		-	the powers and duties of the Secretary of the State or the State Elections 13
29		-	Enforcement Commission under title 9 of the general statutes, including 14
30		-	chapter 151a of the general statutes, (B) preclude any person from 15
31		-	seeking additional remedies under title 9 of the general statutes, 16
32		-	including under chapter 151a of the general statutes, or (C) otherwise 17
33		-	affect chapter 151a of the general statutes. 18
34		-	(b) (1) The Municipal Election Accountability Board shall be 19 Substitute Bill No. 1515
	27	+	the purposes of reviewing the administration of elections, primaries and 4
	28	+	referenda, including the conduct of early voting, absentee voting and 5
	29	+	same-day election registration, and the duties of election officials under 6
	30	+	title 9 of the general statutes, in municipalities in this state whenever 7
	31	+	such municipalities are referred to the board for such review, overseeing 8
	32	+	the administration of elections in such municipalities where necessary 9
	33	+	and establishing procedural safeguards for the effective conduct of such 10
	34	+	elections, primaries and referenda in such municipalities. Nothing in 11
	35	+	this section shall be construed to (1) affect the powers and duties under 12
	36	+	title 9 of the general statutes of the Secretary of the State or the State 13
	37	+	Elections Enforcement Commission, including chapter 151a of the 14
	38	+	general statutes, (2) preclude any person from seeking additional 15
	39	+	remedies under title 9 of the general statutes, including under chapter 16
	40	+	Raised Bill No. 1515
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36	42
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38	43
	44	+	LCO No. 6406 2 of 8
	45	+
	46	+	151a of the general statutes, or (3) otherwise affect chapter 151a of the 17
	47	+	general statutes. 18
	48	+	(b) (1) The Municipal Election Accountability Board shall be 19
39	49		comprised of: (A) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, 20
40	50		who shall be the chairperson of the board; (B) the executive director of 21
41	51		the State Elections Enforcement Commission, or the executive director's 22
42	52		designee; (C) nine members appointed by the Secretary of the State, with 23
43	53		the advice and consent of the General Assembly, as follows: (i) One 24
44	54		member who shall be admitted to the practice of law in this state and 25
45	55		has expertise in election law; (ii) two members who shall be moderators 26
46		-	certified under section 9-229 of the general statutes and enrolled in 27
47		-	different political parties and who shall be selected from lists of five 28
	56	+	that are certified under section 9-229 of the general statutes and enrolled 27
	57	+	in different political parties and who shall be selected from lists of five 28
48	58		recommendations from each major party, as defined in section 9-372 of 29
49		-	the general statutes, provided by an association representing the 30
50		-	interests of registrars of voters in the state; (iii) two members who shall 31
51		-	be registrars of voters and enrolled in different political parties and who 32
52		-	shall be selected from lists of five recommendations from each major 33
53		-	party provided by an association representing the interests of registrars 34
54		-	of voters in the state; (iv) two members who shall be town clerks and 35
55		-	enrolled in different political parties and who shall be selected from lists 36
56		-	of five recommendations from each major party provided by an 37
57		-	association representing the interests of town clerks in the state; and (v) 38
58		-	two members who shall be chief elected officials of municipalities and 39
59		-	enrolled in different political parties and who shall be selected from lists 40
60		-	of five recommendations from each major party provided by, jointly, a 41
61		-	state-wide organization of municipal leaders and an organization that 42
62		-	advocates for the interests of small towns in the state; and (D) one 43
63		-	member appointed by each of the four legislative leaders, as defined in 44
64		-	section 4-9d of the general statutes, who shall have expertise in election 45
65		-	administration or election law, provided appointments under 46
66		-	subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this subdivision shall be made so that no 47
67		-	single municipality is represented by more than one member. 48
68		-	(2) Members described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subdivision 49
69		-	(1) of this subsection shall serve for a term of four years and until a 50
70		-	successor is appointed, and initial appointments of such members shall 51
71		-	be made not later than August 1, 2025. Members described in said 52
72		-	subparagraphs shall recuse themselves from participating in any 53 Substitute Bill No. 1515
	59	+	the general statutes, provided by the Registrars of Voters Association of 30
	60	+	Connecticut; (iii) two members who shall be registrars of voters and 31
	61	+	enrolled in different political parties and who shall be selected from lists 32
	62	+	of five recommendations from each major party provided by the 33
	63	+	Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut; (iv) two members who 34
	64	+	shall be town clerks and enrolled in different political parties and who 35
	65	+	shall be selected from lists of five recommendations from each major 36
	66	+	party provided by the Connecticut Town Clerks Association; and (v) 37
	67	+	two members who shall be chief elected officials of municipalities and 38
	68	+	enrolled in different political parties and who shall be selected from lists 39
	69	+	of five recommendations from each major party provided by, jointly, the 40
	70	+	Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and the Connecticut Council 41
	71	+	of Small Towns; and (D) one member appointed by each of the four 42
	72	+	legislative leaders, as defined in section 4-9d of the general statutes, who 43
	73	+	shall have expertise in election administration or election law, provided 44
	74	+	appointments under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this subdivision shall 45
	75	+	be made so that no single municipality is represented by more than one 46
	76	+	member. 47
	77	+	(2) Members described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subdivision 48
	78	+	(1) of this subsection shall serve for a term of four years and until a 49
	79	+	Raised Bill No. 1515
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77		-	proceeding of the board on any matter in which a conflict exists due to 54
78		-	such member or the immediate family of such member being involved 55
79		-	in any matter before said board, including, but not limited to, a matter 56
80		-	concerning a town appearing before said board that a member 57
81		-	represents on said board. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing 58
82		-	authority for the remainder of the applicable member's unexpired term. 59
83		-	The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall 60
84		-	be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 61
85		-	For the purposes of this subdivision, "immediate family" means a 62
86		-	dependent relative who resides in the member's household or any 63
87		-	spouse, child, parent or sibling of the member. 64
88		-	(c) (1) Beginning on the second Tuesday of January in 2026, and every 65
89		-	month thereafter on such second Tuesday, the Municipal Election 66
90		-	Accountability Board shall hold a regularly scheduled meeting. 67
91		-	(2) All regularly scheduled meetings shall be noticed on the Internet 68
92		-	web site of the office of the Secretary of the State. In the event of any 69
93		-	review hearing or preliminary review to be held under section 2 of this 70
94		-	act, information regarding such hearing or review shall be added to 71
95		-	such notice not later than forty-eight hours prior to any such meeting. 72
96		-	(3) A vacancy on the board shall not impair the right of the remaining 73
97		-	members to exercise all powers of the board, except that a majority of 74
98		-	the total membership of the board shall constitute a quorum. 75
99		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) (1) Whenever the Secretary 76
100		-	of the State or the State Elections Enforcement Commission is of the 77
101		-	opinion that a reasonable likelihood of irregularity or impropriety in the 78
102		-	administration of any election, primary or referendum in a municipality 79
103		-	exists, based on any formal or informal complaint received by the 80
104		-	Secretary or the commission from an individual, the Secretary or the 81
105		-	commission, as applicable, may refer such municipality to the 82
106		-	Municipal Election Accountability Board for a review hearing on such 83
107		-	municipality's procedures related to the conduct of any such election, 84
108		-	primary or referendum. Any such referral shall be accompanied by 85 Substitute Bill No. 1515
	83	+	LCO No. 6406 3 of 8
	84	+
	85	+	successor is appointed, and initial appointments of such members shall 50
	86	+	be made not later than August 1, 2025. Members described in said 51
	87	+	subparagraphs shall recuse themselves from participating in any 52
	88	+	proceeding of the board on any matter in which a conflict exists due to 53
	89	+	such member or the immediate family of such member being involved 54
	90	+	in any matter before said board, including, but not limited to, a matter 55
	91	+	concerning a town appearing before said board that a member 56
	92	+	represents on said board. The filling of any vacancy shall be for the 57
	93	+	remainder of the applicable member's term. The members of the board 58
	94	+	shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses 59
	95	+	incurred in the performance of their duties. For the purposes of this 60
	96	+	subdivision, "immediate family" means a dependent relative who 61
	97	+	resides in the member's household or any spouse, child, parent or 62
	98	+	sibling of the member. 63
	99	+	(c) (1) Beginning on the second Tuesday of January in 2026, and every 64
	100	+	month thereafter on such second Tuesday, the Municipal Election 65
	101	+	Accountability Board shall hold a regularly scheduled meeting. 66
	102	+	(2) All regularly scheduled meetings shall be noticed on the Internet 67
	103	+	web site of the office of the Secretary of the State. In the event of any 68
	104	+	review hearing or preliminary review to be held under section 2 of this 69
	105	+	act, information regarding such hearing or review shall be added to 70
	106	+	such notice not later than forty-eight hours prior to any such meeting. 71
	107	+	(3) A vacancy on the board shall not impair the right of the remaining 72
	108	+	members exercise all powers of the board, and a majority of the total 73
	109	+	membership of the board shall constitute a quorum. 74
	110	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) (1) Whenever the Secretary 75
	111	+	of the State or the State Elections Enforcement Commission is of the 76
	112	+	opinion that a reasonable likelihood of irregularity or impropriety in the 77
	113	+	administration of any election, primary or referendum in a municipality 78
	114	+	exists, based on any formal or informal complaint received by the 79
	115	+	Secretary or the commission from an individual, the Secretary or the 80
	116	+	Raised Bill No. 1515
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111		-	LCO 4 of 8
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113		-	supporting evidence, including, but not limited to, affidavits, written or 86
114		-	electronic correspondence and documented findings from an 87
115		-	investigation. 88
116		-	(2) Whenever a judge of the Superior Court is of the opinion that a 89
117		-	reasonable likelihood of irregularity or impropriety in the 90
118		-	administration of any election, primary or referendum in a municipality 91
119		-	exists, based on a matter before such court involving such municipality's 92
120		-	alleged violation of any provision of title 9 of the general statutes, such 93
121		-	judge may refer such municipality to the Municipal Election 94
122		-	Accountability Board for a review hearing on such municipality's 95
123		-	procedures related to the conduct of any such election, primary or 96
124		-	referendum. Any such referral shall be accompanied by supporting 97
125		-	evidence, including, but not limited to, any record developed during a 98
126		-	judicial proceeding. 99
127		-	(3) (A) Whenever a municipal clerk, registrar of voters or moderator 100
128		-	observes any act or omission that may present an impediment to the 101
129		-	timely and orderly administration of any duty required of a 102
130		-	municipality under title 9 of the general statutes, or (B) whenever the 103
131		-	chief executive officer of a municipality, based on a review of such 104
132		-	municipality's practices, identifies any such practice that may present 105
133		-	such an impediment, such municipal clerk, registrar of voters, 106
134		-	moderator or chief executive officer, as applicable, may refer such 107
135		-	municipality to the Municipal Election Accountability Board for a 108
136		-	review hearing on such municipality's procedures related to the conduct 109
137		-	of elections, primaries and referenda. Any such referral shall be 110
138		-	accompanied by supporting evidence, including, but not limited to, 111
139		-	affidavits, written or electronic correspondence, procedure manuals and 112
140		-	other guidance documents and logs of absentee ballot applications, 113
141		-	moderator's diaries or other contemporaneously-produced notes or 114
142		-	records. 115
143		-	(4) Whenever any citizen of the state has a good-faith belief that a 116
144		-	reasonable likelihood of irregularity or impropriety in the 117
145		-	administration of any election, primary or referendum in a municipality 118 Substitute Bill No. 1515
	120	+	LCO No. 6406 4 of 8
	121	+
	122	+	commission, as applicable, may refer such municipality to the 81
	123	+	Municipal Election Accountability Board for a review hearing on such 82
	124	+	municipality's procedures related to the conduct of any such election, 83
	125	+	primary or referendum. Any such referral shall be accompanied by 84
	126	+	supporting evidence, including, but not limited to, affidavits, written or 85
	127	+	electronic correspondence and documented findings from an 86
	128	+	investigation. 87
	129	+	(2) Whenever a judge of the Superior Court is of the opinion that a 88
	130	+	reasonable likelihood of irregularity or impropriety in the 89
	131	+	administration of any election, primary or referendum in a municipality 90
	132	+	exists, based on a matter before such court involving such municipality's 91
	133	+	alleged violation of any provision of title 9 of the general statutes, such 92
	134	+	judge may refer such municipality to the Municipal Election 93
	135	+	Accountability Board for a review hearing on such municipality's 94
	136	+	procedures related to the conduct of any such election, primary or 95
	137	+	referendum. Any such referral shall be accompanied by supporting 96
	138	+	evidence, including, but not limited to, any record developed during a 97
	139	+	judicial proceeding. 98
	140	+	(3) (A) Whenever a municipal clerk, registrar of voters or moderator 99
	141	+	observes any act or omission that may present an impediment to the 100
	142	+	timely and orderly administration of any duty required of a 101
	143	+	municipality under title 9 of the general statutes, or (B) whenever the 102
	144	+	chief executive officer of a municipality, based on a review of such 103
	145	+	municipality's practices, identifies any such practice that may present 104
	146	+	such an impediment, such municipal clerk, registrar of voters, 105
	147	+	moderator or chief executive officer, as applicable, may refer such 106
	148	+	municipality to the Municipal Election Accountability Board for a 107
	149	+	review hearing on such municipality's procedures related to the conduct 108
	150	+	of elections, primaries and referenda. Any such referral shall be 109
	151	+	accompanied by supporting evidence, including, but not limited to, 110
	152	+	affidavits, written or electronic correspondence, procedure manuals and 111
	153	+	other guidance documents and logs of absentee ballot applications, 112
	154	+	moderator's diaries or other contemporaneously-produced notes or 113
	155	+	Raised Bill No. 1515
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150		-	exists, such citizen may file a report detailing such irregularity or 119
151		-	impropriety with the Municipal Election Accountability Board and 120
152		-	seeking a preliminary review of such municipality's procedures related 121
153		-	to the conduct of any such election, primary or referendum. Any such 122
154		-	report shall be accompanied by supporting evidence, including, but not 123
155		-	limited to, affidavits, written or electronic correspondence and 124
156		-	documented findings from an investigation. All submissions of such 125
157		-	supporting evidence shall be made under penalty of false statement. 126
158		-	(b) At the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Municipal Election 127
159		-	Accountability Board after the receipt of a citizen report under 128
160		-	subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, the board shall hold a 129
161		-	preliminary review for the purpose of determining whether to hold a 130
162		-	review hearing under subsection (c) of this section. At such preliminary 131
163		-	review, the board shall vote to determine whether, if everything in the 132
164		-	citizen report is accurate, the reported municipality would be likely to 133
165		-	be designated for oversight in accordance with subsection (c) of this 134
166		-	section. In making such determination, the board shall consider (1) the 135
167		-	plausibility of the citizen report based on such report and supporting 136
168		-	evidence, (2) the nature and severity of the alleged irregularity or 137
169		-	impropriety, including whether any such irregularity or impropriety 138
170		-	would constitute a violation of the provisions of chapter 151 or 151a of 139
171		-	the general statutes, and (3) the frequency with which any such 140
172		-	irregularity or impropriety is alleged to have occurred in such reported 141
173		-	municipality. A preliminary review of a citizen report held under this 142
174		-	subsection shall not be considered a contested case under chapter 54 of 143
175		-	the general statutes. 144
176		-	(c) Immediately upon receipt of a referral under subdivisions (1) to 145
177		-	(3), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section or an affirmative vote at a 146
178		-	preliminary review of a citizen report held under subsection (b) of this 147
179		-	section, the Municipal Election Accountability Board shall give notice of 148
180		-	such referral or citizen report to the referred municipality. Not later than 149
181		-	ten days after receipt of such notice, the referred municipality may 150
182		-	submit to the board a written response to such referral or citizen report. 151
183		-	Not later than forty-five days after receipt of such response or, if such 152 Substitute Bill No. 1515
	159	+	LCO No. 6406 5 of 8
	160	+
	161	+	records. 114
	162	+	(4) Whenever any citizen of the state has a good-faith belief that a 115
	163	+	reasonable likelihood of irregularity or impropriety in the 116
	164	+	administration of any election, primary or referendum in a municipality 117
	165	+	exists, such citizen may file a report detailing such irregularity or 118
	166	+	impropriety with the Municipal Election Accountability Board seeking 119
	167	+	a preliminary review of such municipality's procedures related to the 120
	168	+	conduct of any such election, primary or referendum. Any such report 121
	169	+	shall be accompanied by supporting evidence, including, but not 122
	170	+	limited to, affidavits, written or electronic correspondence and 123
	171	+	documented findings from an investigation. All submissions of such 124
	172	+	supporting evidence shall be made under penalty of false statement. 125
	173	+	(b) At the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Municipal Election 126
	174	+	Accountability Board after the receipt of a citizen report under 127
	175	+	subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section, the board shall hold a 128
	176	+	preliminary review for the purpose of determining whether to hold a 129
	177	+	review hearing under subsection (c) of this section. At such preliminary 130
	178	+	review, the board shall vote to determine whether, if everything in the 131
	179	+	citizen report is accurate, the report municipality would be likely to be 132
	180	+	designated for oversight in accordance with subsection (c) of this 133
	181	+	section. In making such determination, the board shall consider (1) the 134
	182	+	plausibility of the citizen report based on such report and supporting 135
	183	+	evidence, (2) the nature and severity of the alleged irregularity or 136
	184	+	impropriety, including whether any such irregularity or impropriety 137
	185	+	would constitute a violation of the provisions of chapter 151 or 151a of 138
	186	+	the general statutes, and (3) the frequency with which any such 139
	187	+	irregularity or impropriety is alleged to have occurred in such reported 140
	188	+	municipality. A preliminary review of a citizen report held under this 141
	189	+	subsection shall not be considered a contested case under chapter 54 of 142
	190	+	the general statutes. 143
	191	+	(c) Immediately upon receipt of a referral under subsection (a) of this 144
	192	+	section or an affirmative vote at a preliminary review of a citizen report 145
	193	+	Raised Bill No. 1515
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188		-	municipality does not submit such a written response, not later than 153
189		-	sixty days after the board gave notice of such referral or citizen report 154
190		-	to the referred municipality, the board shall hold a review hearing 155
191		-	during a regularly scheduled meeting of the board for the purpose of 156
192		-	presenting to such referred or reported municipality the evidence that 157
193		-	accompanied such referral or citizen report. The board may compel the 158
194		-	attendance of any person as a witness by subpoena issued by the board 159
195		-	and may compel the production for examination of any books and 160
196		-	papers that the board deems relevant to the matter in question. At such 161
197		-	review hearing, the chief executive officer, the corporation counsel or 162
198		-	any other duly authorized representative of such referred or reported 163
199		-	municipality shall have a right to respond to the evidence that 164
200		-	accompanied such referral or citizen report, including, but not limited 165
201		-	to, rebuttal of any fact alleged and confrontation of any witness. Not 166
202		-	later than the next regularly scheduled meeting after the review hearing, 167
203		-	the board shall vote to determine (1) whether to designate such referred 168
204		-	or reported municipality for oversight by the board in accordance with 169
205		-	the provisions of section 3 of this act, (2) if such oversight is deemed 170
206		-	necessary, the tier to which such municipality shall be designated, and 171
207		-	(3) if such oversight is deemed necessary, the length of time such 172
208		-	municipality shall be subject to such oversight. In making the 173
209		-	determination under subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection, 174
210		-	the board shall consider: (A) The referred or reported municipality's 175
211		-	response, if any, to the evidence that accompanied such referral or 176
212		-	citizen report, (B) the nature and severity of the alleged irregularity or 177
213		-	impropriety, including whether any such irregularity or impropriety 178
214		-	constitutes a violation of the provisions of chapter 151 or 151a of the 179
215		-	general statutes, and (C) the frequency with which any such irregularity 180
216		-	or impropriety appears to have occurred in such referred or reported 181
217		-	municipality. The determination of the board under this subsection may 182
218		-	be appealed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the 183
219		-	general statutes. Any such appeal shall be privileged with respect to 184
220		-	assignment. 185
221		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) A referred municipality 186 Substitute Bill No. 1515
	197	+	LCO No. 6406 6 of 8
	198	+
	199	+	held under subsection (b) of this section, the Municipal Election 146
	200	+	Accountability Board shall give notice of such referral or citizen report 147
	201	+	to the referred municipality. Not later than ten days after receipt of such 148
	202	+	notice, the referred municipality may submit to the board a written 149
	203	+	response to such referral or citizen report. Not later than forty-five days 150
	204	+	after receipt of such response, or not later than sixty days after the board 151
	205	+	gave notice of such referral of citizen report to the referred municipality 152
	206	+	if such municipality does not submit such a written response, during a 153
	207	+	regularly scheduled meeting of the board, the board shall hold a review 154
	208	+	hearing for the purpose of presenting to such referred or reported 155
	209	+	municipality the evidence that accompanied such referral or citizen 156
	210	+	report. At such review hearing, the chief executive officer, the 157
	211	+	corporation counsel or any other duly authorized representative of such 158
	212	+	referred or reported municipality shall have a right to respond to the 159
	213	+	evidence that accompanied such referral or citizen report, including, but 160
	214	+	not limited to, rebuttal of any fact alleged and confrontation of any 161
	215	+	witness. Not later than the next regularly scheduled meeting after the 162
	216	+	review hearing, the board shall vote to determine (1) whether to 163
	217	+	designate such referred or reported municipality for oversight by the 164
	218	+	board in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of this act, (2) if 165
	219	+	such oversight is deemed necessary, the tier to which such municipality 166
	220	+	shall be designated, and (3) if such oversight is deemed necessary, the 167
	221	+	length of time such municipality shall be subject to such oversight. In 168
	222	+	making the determination under subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of this 169
	223	+	subsection, the board shall consider: (A) The referred or reported 170
	224	+	municipality's response, if any, to such evidence, (B) the nature and 171
	225	+	severity of the alleged irregularity or impropriety, including whether 172
	226	+	any such irregularity or impropriety constitutes a violation of the 173
	227	+	provisions of chapter 151 or 151a of the general statutes, and (C) the 174
	228	+	frequency with which any such irregularity or impropriety appears to 175
	229	+	occur in such referred or reported municipality. The determination of 176
	230	+	the board under this subsection may be appealed in accordance with the 177
	231	+	provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes. Any such appeal shall 178
	232	+	be privileged with respect to assignment. 179
	233	+	Raised Bill No. 1515
222	234
223	235
224		-	LCO 7 of 8
225	236
226		-	designated by the Municipal Election Accountability Board as a: 187
227		-	(1) Tier I municipality shall be subject to oversight by the board 188
228		-	consisting of (A) development by such municipality of a plan to mitigate 189
229		-	the concerns that warranted such designation by the board, which shall 190
230		-	be submitted to the board for approval and modification as required by 191
231		-	the board, (B) mandatory training of election officials in election 192
232		-	administration procedures and best practices, conducted by the office of 193
233		-	the Secretary of the State or by a certified moderator, town clerk or 194
234		-	registrar of voters, or a combination thereof, selected by the Secretary of 195
235		-	the State, and (C) distribution by said office to such election officials of 196
236		-	instruction or training manuals or other resources for promoting best 197
237		-	practices in election administration. 198
238		-	(2) Tier II municipality shall be subject to oversight by the board 199
239		-	consisting of (A) the measures provided under subdivision (1) of this 200
240		-	section for a Tier I municipality, and (B) regular contact with the 201
241		-	municipality to ensure (i) compliance with the developed mitigation 202
242		-	plan and timely achievement of the benchmarks set forth in such 203
243		-	mitigation plan, (ii) attendance of election officials at all mandatory 204
244		-	training, and (iii) distribution of manuals or resources in accordance 205
245		-	with the provisions of subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of this 206
246		-	section. 207
247		-	(3) Tier III municipality shall be subject to oversight by the board 208
248		-	consisting of (A) the measures provided under subdivision (2) of this 209
249		-	section for a Tier II municipality, and (B) appointment of an election 210
250		-	monitor (i) who shall be authorized to (I) conduct inspections, inquiries 211
251		-	and investigations related to any duty or responsibility under title 9 of 212
252		-	the general statutes to be carried out by any official of such municipality 213
253		-	or appointee of such official, (II) have access to all records, data and 214
254		-	material maintained by or available to any such official or appointee, 215
255		-	and (III) immediately report to the Secretary of the State any irregularity 216
256		-	or impropriety in the performance of any duty or responsibility 217
257		-	described in subparagraph (B)(i)(I) of this subdivision, and (ii) who shall 218
258		-	be provided, by such municipality, with any office space, supplies, 219 Substitute Bill No. 1515
	237	+	LCO No. 6406 7 of 8
	238	+
	239	+	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) A referred municipality 180
	240	+	designated as a: 181
	241	+	(1) Tier I municipality shall be subject to oversight by the Municipal 182
	242	+	Election Accountability Board consisting of (A) development by such 183
	243	+	municipality of a plan to mitigate the concerns that warranted such 184
	244	+	designation by the board, which shall be submitted to the board for 185
	245	+	approval and modification as required by the board, (B) mandatory 186
	246	+	training of election officials in election administration procedures and 187
	247	+	best practices conducted by the office of the Secretary of the State or by 188
	248	+	a certified moderator, town clerk or registrar of voters, or a combination 189
	249	+	thereof, selected by the Secretary of the State, and (C) distribution of 190
	250	+	instruction or training manuals or other resources for promoting best 191
	251	+	practices in election administration. 192
	252	+	(2) Tier II municipality shall be subject to oversight by the board 193
	253	+	consisting of (A) the measures provided under subdivision (1) of this 194
	254	+	section for a Tier I municipality, and (B) regular contact with the 195
	255	+	municipality to ensure (i) compliance with such mitigation plan and 196
	256	+	timely achievement of the benchmarks set forth in such mitigation plan, 197
	257	+	(ii) attendance of such election officials at such mandatory training, and 198
	258	+	(iii) distribution of such manuals or resources. 199
	259	+	(3) Tier III municipality shall be subject to oversight by the board 200
	260	+	consisting of (A) the measures provided under subdivision (2) of this 201
	261	+	section for a Tier II municipality, and (B) appointment of an election 202
	262	+	monitor (i) who shall be authorized to (I) conduct inspections, inquiries 203
	263	+	and investigations related to any duty or responsibility under title 9 of 204
	264	+	the general statutes to be carried out by any official of such municipality 205
	265	+	or appointee of such official, (II) have access to all records, data and 206
	266	+	material maintained by or available to any such official or appointee, 207
	267	+	and (III) immediately report to the Secretary of the State any irregularity 208
	268	+	or impropriety in the performance of any duty or responsibility 209
	269	+	described in subparagraph (B)(i)(I) of this subdivision, and (ii) who shall 210
	270	+	be provided, by such municipality, with any office space, supplies, 211
	271	+	Raised Bill No. 1515
259	272
260	273
261		-	LCO 8 of 8
262	274
263		-	equipment and services necessary to properly carry out such election 220
264		-	monitor's duties and responsibilities. 221
265		-	(4) Tier IV municipality shall be subject to oversight by the board 222
266		-	consisting of the complete administration by the board of any election, 223
267		-	primary or referendum in such municipality, and all procedures related 224
268		-	to the orderly conduct of any such election, primary or referendum, 225
269		-	notwithstanding the provisions of (A) titles 7 and 9 of the general 226
270		-	statutes, (B) any special act, and (C) any charter or home rule ordinance 227
271		-	adopted pursuant to chapter 99 of the general statutes. 228
272		-	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2026, 229
273		-	the Municipal Election Accountability Board shall adopt regulations, in 230
274		-	accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, as 231
275		-	the board deems necessary to implement the provisions of sections 1 to 232
276		-	3, inclusive, of this act. 233
	275	+	LCO No. 6406 8 of 8
	276	+
	277	+	equipment and services necessary to properly carry out such election 212
	278	+	monitor's duties and responsibilities. 213
	279	+	(4) Tier IV municipality shall be subject to oversight by the board 214
	280	+	consisting of the complete administration by the board of any election, 215
	281	+	primary or referendum in such municipality, and all procedures related 216
	282	+	to the orderly conduct of any such election, primary or referendum, 217
	283	+	notwithstanding the provisions of (A) titles 7 and 9 of the general 218
	284	+	statutes, (B) any special act, and (C) any charter or home rule ordinance 219
	285	+	adopted pursuant to chapter 99 of the general statutes. 220
	286	+	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2026, 221
	287	+	the Municipal Election Accountability Board shall adopt regulations, in 222
	288	+	accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, as 223
	289	+	the board deems necessary to implement the provisions of sections 1 to 224
	290	+	3, inclusive, of this act. 225
277	291		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
278	292		sections:
279	293
280	294		Section 1 from passage New section
281	295		Sec. 2 January 1, 2026 New section
282	296		Sec. 3 January 1, 2026 New section
283	297		Sec. 4 from passage New section
284	298
285		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
	299	+	Statement of Purpose:
	300	+	To establish a Municipal Election Accountability Board and a process by
	301	+	which said board may be authorized to exercise oversight of
	302	+	municipalities in the administration of their elections, primaries and
	303	+	referenda.
	304	+
	305	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	306	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	307	+	underlined.]
286	308