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)]
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP ORT DIGEST
HB 1082 2022 Regular Session Gaines
Keyword and oneliner of the instrument as it left the House
ELECTIONS: Provides for election procedures during a state of emergency
Report adopts Senate amendments to:
1. Makes technical changes.
Digest of the bill as proposed by the Conference Committee
Present law provides that when a polling place is relocated, the clerk of court in conjunction with
the secretary of state shall give adequate notice of the change of the location to each voter registered
to vote at that polling place and to each candidate to be voted on at that polling place.
Proposed law provides that the secretary of state shall also post a list of all changed polling locations
on the secretary of state's website.
Present law provides that after the issuance of an executive order by the governor declaring a state
of emergency and if the secretary of state determines that such emergency impairs an election due
to certain circumstances, the secretary of state shall certify such facts and the reasons therefor to the
governor, the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, and the House Committee on
House and Governmental Affairs.
Present law provides that if the governor and a majority of the members of each committee concur
that such an emergency plan is necessary, the secretary of state shall develop a written emergency
plan that proposes a resolution to the problems impairing the holding of the election. Provides that
the plan shall propose a resolution to problems impairing the holding of the election with respect to
the following:
(1)Relocation or consolidation of polling places.
(2)Shortages of commissioners and absentee commissioners. (3)Shortages of voting machines.
(4)Conducting early voting for displaced persons.
Present law requires the secretary of state to submit the emergency plan to the Senate Committee on
Senate and Governmental Affairs, the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, and
the governor. If a majority of the members of the legislative committees approve the emergency
plan, the plan shall be submitted to the members of each house of the legislature for approval by mail
ballot. If the legislature and the governor approve the emergency plan, the secretary of state shall
implement the plan.
Proposed law provides that after the initial declaration of an emergency within 45 days prior to an
election, the secretary of state shall take necessary actions to ensure successful execution of the
election including:
(1)Adjusting deadlines.
(2)Adjusting provision of equipment, staffing, and other resources.
Present law regarding concurrence of the governor and the legislative committees that an emergency
action is necessary and regarding the approval of the plan by the governor and the legislature is not
applicable to proposed law.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of State to provide a report to the legislature within 15 days of an
election detailing such actions taken pursuant to proposed law.
Effective Oct. 1, 2022.
(Adds R.S. 18:401.2(B)(5) and 401.4)