SLS 13RS-204 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2013 SENATE BILL NO. 178 BY SENATOR RISER Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. VOTERS/VOTING. Requires the placement of voter registration application forms at certain retailers selling firearms.(gov sig) AN ACT1 To enact R.S. 18:118, relative to voter registration forms, to provide for the availability of2 voter registration cards by firearm retailers; to grant authority to the secretary of state3 regarding voter registration application form availability; to provide for definitions4 and to provide for related matters.5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6 Section 1. R.S. 18:118 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 7 ยง118. Voter registration application form availability; firearm retailers8 A. It is the intention of the legislature to increase the participation in the9 electoral process by the citizens of the state. Therefore, voter registration10 application forms, as provided for in this Section, shall be made available to11 purchasers of firearms at the point of purchase from firearms retailers located12 in the state.13 B. For the purposes of this Section:14 (1) "Firearm" means any pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun which is15 designed to fire or is capable of firing fixed cartridge ammunition or from16 which a shot or projectile is discharged by an explosive.17 SB NO. 178 SLS 13RS-204 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. (2) "Firearms retailer" means any retailer who possesses a Class 011 Federal Firearms License and employs twenty-five or more full-time employees.2 C. The secretary of state shall ensure that every firearms retailer in the3 state shall have voter registration application forms available and clearly4 displayed for all purchasers of firearms at the point of purchase.5 D. To further the implementation of the provisions of this Section, the6 secretary of state's duties shall include but is not limited to the following:7 (1) Establishing standards for the placement of voter registration8 application forms.9 (2) Training or providing literature to firearms retailers relative to voter10 registration procedures.11 (3) Training or providing literature to firearms retailers relative to any12 voter registration confidentiality requirement.13 E. The secretary of state is authorized to promulgate rules and14 regulations as may be necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of this15 Section.16 F. The secretary of state in conjunction with the registrars of voters17 shall be responsible for developing all training programs and materials18 necessitated as a result of the provisions of this Section.19 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not20 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature21 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If22 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become23 effective on the day following such approval.24 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by James Benton. DIGEST Proposed law provides that voter registration application forms will be made available to purchasers of firearms at the point of purchase from firearms retailers located in the state. Proposed law defines "firearms retailer" as any retailer who possesses Class 01 Federal SB NO. 178 SLS 13RS-204 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Firearms License, and employs 25 or more full-time employees. Proposed law defines "firearm" as any pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun which is designed to fire or is capable of firing fixed cartridge ammunition or from which a shot or projectile is discharged by an explosive. Proposed law provides that every retailer of firearms will have voter registration application forms available and clearly displayed for all customers of firearms at the point of purchase. Proposed law provides that the secretary of state's authority will include: (1) Establishing standards for the placement of voter registration application forms for visibility by the firearm purchasers. (2) The training or providing of literature to firearm retailers and their employees on the voting registration process. (3) The training or providing of literature to firearm retailers and their employees on the confidentiality of records. Proposed law authorizes the secretary of state to make rules and regulations as may be necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of proposed law. Proposed law provides that the secretary of state in conjunction with the registrars of voters will be responsible for developing all training programs and materials necessitated as a result of the provisions of proposed law. Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action. (Adds R.S. 18:118)