HLS 15RS-3349 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 132
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAINES
VOTING/REGISTRATION: Provides for a study of automatic voter registration
1 A RESOLUTION
2To create and provide for a subcommittee of the House Committee on House and
3 Governmental Affairs to examine and study the advisability and feasibility of
4 instituting automatic voter registration through driver's license facilities in Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, R.S. 18:114 requires voter registration services to be provided at all
6driver's license facilities in the state; and
7 WHEREAS, this statute provides: "It is the intention of the legislature to encourage
8the broadest possible participation in the electoral process by the citizens of this state"; and
9 WHEREAS, when a person applies to obtain, renew, or change the name or address
10on a driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety and
11Corrections, the person can also apply for voter registration; and
12 WHEREAS, the law requires the applicant to complete a registration application
13form and return it to an authorized employee at the driver's license facility; and
14 WHEREAS, completed voter registration applications are periodically sent to
15registrars of voters, who determine whether the applicants are registered to vote; and
16 WHEREAS, earlier this year, Oregon enacted an automatic voter registration system,
17whereby each person who applies for a driver's license is automatically registered to vote
18using driver's license data, unless the person opts out of voter registration; and
19 WHEREAS, in light of Louisiana's interest in encouraging the broadest possible
20participation in the electoral process, it is desirable to study automatic voter registration to
21determine whether it should be implemented in this state.
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HR NO. 132
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
2Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create a subcommittee of the House Committee on
3House and Governmental Affairs to examine and study the advisability and feasibility of
4instituting automatic voter registration through driver's license facilities in Louisiana.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the House Committee on House
6and Governmental Affairs shall appoint the members of the subcommittee and designate the
7chairman and vice chairman of the subcommittee.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be responsible for
9examining all matters relating to automatic voter registration and any related issues that the
10subcommittee deems appropriate.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall make such studies as it
12shall find necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes; for the purposes of conducting
13such studies, the subcommittee may call upon the staffs of any department, agency, or
14official of the state for data and assistance; all such departments, agencies, and officials shall
15cooperate with the subcommittee; and the subcommittee may request and utilize the
16assistance of any and all public and private sources.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall solicit input,
18recommendations, and advice from the following:
19 (1) The secretary of state.
20 (2) The commissioner of elections.
21 (3) The attorney general.
22 (4) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services.
23 (5) The Louisiana Registrars of Voters Association.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall have the power and
25authority of a standing committee to hold hearings, require the production of books and
26records, and do all other things necessary to discharge its duties and responsibilities.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall make a report of its
28findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the House Committee on
29House and Governmental Affairs no later than thirty days prior to the 2016 Regular Session
30of the Legislature.
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HR NO. 132
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall be dissolved upon the
2adjournment sine die of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 132 Original 2015 Regular Session Gaines
Creates and provides for a subcommittee of the House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to study the advisability and feasibility of instituting automatic voter
registration through driver's license facilities in La.
Requires the subcommittee to make a report of its findings and recommendations, including
proposed legislation, to the committee no later than 30 days prior to the 2016 R.S.
Provides that the subcommittee is dissolved upon the adjournment sine die of the 2016 R.S.
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