HASBSB221 TYLERT 3068
SENATE SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS
SB 221 2021 Regular Session Hewitt
KEYWORD AND SUMMARY AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
VOTERS/VOTING. Provides relative to voting systems. (gov sig)
SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE BILL
1. Provides that the Voting System Commission make a recommendation to the
secretary of state regarding which voting system to procure rather than
selecting a system and directing the secretary of state.
2. Relative to the legislative appointments to the Voting System Commission,
require the presiding officers of each chamber to select a member affiliated
with the Republican Party and a member affiliated with the Democratic
Party.
3. Provides that the executive director of the Cyber Innovation Center or his
designee be a member of the commission.
4. Provides for commission meetings at the state capitol.
5. Adds requirement for a report of commission findings and conclusions to the
governor, the legislative presiding officers, the secretary of state, and the
division of administration no later than 90 days after its initial meeting and
annually thereafter.
DIGEST OF THE SENATE BILL AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
SB 221 Reengrossed 2021 Regular Session Hewitt
Present law defines both voting machines and electronic voting machines.
Proposed law consolidates this definition to "voting machine" only and removes references
to "electronic voting machines" in present law.
Present law provides that the secretary of state may prescribe rules and regulations regarding
the preparation and use of voting systems that shall be approved by the attorney general.
Proposed law requires the secretary of state to promulgate rules as to reasonable certification
standards pertaining to the durability, accuracy, efficiency, and capacity of voting systems
in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and subject to legislative oversight and
removes the requirement for approval by the attorney general.
Present law provides that the secretary of state is responsible for all matters involving the
procurement, sales, transfers of voting systems and any affiliated bids or requests for
proposals to purchase new voting systems.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires the secretary of state to perform
these duties in coordination with the office of state procurement and develop certification
standards for voting systems in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and
subject to legislative oversight.
Present law provides that the secretary of state may examine any voting system or system
component upon the request of a representative of the system's maker or supplier, and certify
the system for use in the state if it meets criteria established in present law.
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Proposed law provides that the secretary is required to examine and certify any voting
system or system component upon request and must develop and adopt appropriate
certification standards prior to soliciting bids for any new voting system.
Present law provides that the secretary of state may employ experts to assist with the
examination of voting systems or system components.
Proposed law requires the secretary of state to employ such experts and specifies the
minimum number of experts required and maximum number of experts allowed.
Present law provides that the expenses of the services of the experts assisting the secretary
of state with the examination of voting systems cannot exceed five hundred dollars.
Proposed law provides these expenses cannot exceed five thousand dollars.
Present law provides all voting systems or system components shall be procured by the
secretary of state on the basis of a competitive request for proposal or solicitation of public
bids in accordance with specifications in present law that may require tests and examinations
of operations of the voting system or system components.
Proposed law requires the secretary of state to procure all voting systems or system
components in accordance with specifications developed by a commission established in
proposed law that mandate testing and examination of the voting system or system
components.
Proposed law creates the Voting System Commission to analyze available voting systems
and issue a report to the secretary of state recommending the type of voting system to solicit
bids or requests for proposals.
Proposed law requires that of the four members be appointed to the commission from the
House of Representatives and the Senate: two members be affiliated with the Republican
Party and two be affiliated with the Democratic Party. Provides that the executive director
of the Cyber Innovation Center or his designee be a member of the commission instead of
an expert on cyber security appointed by the chairman of the La. Cybersecurity Commission.
Proposed law requires that meetings of the commission be held at the state capitol and all
meetings at the capitol streamed on the Internet.
Proposed law creates the Voting System Proposal Evaluation Committee to investigate and
test the voting systems that meet the qualifications established by the Voting System
Commission and determine which voting system to suggest the secretary of state purchase
in coordination with the office of state procurement.
Present law provides that the secretary of state shall determine the sufficiency of voting
machines and absentee by mail and early voting counting equipment necessary to conduct
an election at his discretion.
Proposed law requires the secretary of state to evaluate the sufficiency of this equipment
annually in consultation with the Voting System Commission.
Proposed law repeals provisions for the secretary of state to utilize any procedure necessary
to accommodate the use of paging direct record electronic voting machines for voting where
possible.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 18:18(A)(7), 1351(13), 1353(B), (C)(intro para) and (C)(2), and (D), 1361,
1362(A), and 1364(A); Adds R.S. 18:1362.1 and 1362.2 and 36:744(O) and (P); Repeals
R.S. 18:553.1, 1351(5), and 1365)
______________________
Thomas L. Tyler
Deputy Chief of Staff
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