Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H657 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2898 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 657
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bruce J. Ayers
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act assuring that polling places are accessible to elderly and physically challenged voters.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk1/19/2023 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2898 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 657
18	18	By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 657) of Bruce J.
19	19	Ayers for legislation to ensure that polling places are accessible to handicapped and elderly
20	20	voters. Election Laws.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 760 OF 2021-2022.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act assuring that polling places are accessible to elderly and physically challenged voters.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 10 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
32	32	2section 35W the following new section: —
33	33	3 Section 35X. There is hereby established on the books of the commonwealth a separate
34	34	4fund known as the Polling Location Accessibility Fund, to promote improved involvement in the
35	35	5electoral process by physically-challenged and elderly individuals. Said fund shall consist of all
36	36	6monies appropriated therefore in each fiscal year and any funds donated to the commonwealth
37	37	7and designated for this purpose. All monies appropriated to said fund shall be made available for
38	38	8distribution upon appropriation. 2 of 3
39	39	9 All revenues credited under this section shall remain in said Polling Location
40	40	10Accessibility Fund to assist cities and towns of the commonwealth in paying all or part of any
41	41	11costs associated with local initiatives to improve the physical condition of polling locations that
42	42	12may contain obstacles to access, or impediments to movement for elderly and physically-
43	43	13challenged residents wishing to vote. Said fund may also be distributed to fund all or part of the
44	44	14costs associated with programs designed to increase the number of overall percentage of elderly
45	45	15and physically-challenged voters casting ballots at a state or federal election. All grants from this
46	46	16fund shall be made on a competitive basis pursuant to rules and regulations published by the
47	47	17office of the state secretary and all monetary awards shall be granted only at the discretion of the
48	48	18state secretary.
49	49	19 The state treasurer shall deposit the fund in such a manner that will secure the highest
50	50	20interest rate available consistent with the safety of the fund and the requirement that all amounts
51	51	21on deposit be available for immediate withdrawal. All monies appropriated to said fund but
52	52	22unexpended at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain
53	53	23designated within said fund and be available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years for use
54	54	24consistent with this section. The fund shall be expended only for the purposes herein stated at the
55	55	25direction of the state secretary.
56	56	26 SECTION 2. Chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
57	57	27section 10 the following new section: —Section 10A: The state secretary is hereby authorized
58	58	28and directed to establish a grant program for the purpose of assisting cities and towns in paying
59	59	29all or part of any costs associated with local initiatives to improve the physical condition of
60	60	30polling locations that may contain obstacles to access, or impediments to movement for elderly
61	61	31and physically-challenged residents wishing to vote. Grants made pursuant to this section shall 3 of 3
62	62	32include but not be limited to the substantial alteration and remodeling of a polling location for
63	63	33the specific purpose of better accommodating elderly and physically-challenged residents
64	64	34exercising their right to vote on election day. The state secretary may also make grants to
65	65	35increase the number or overall percentage of elderly and physically-challenged voters casting
66	66	36ballots at a state or federal election. All grants from this fund shall be made on a competitive
67	67	37basis pursuant to rules and regulations published by the office of the state secretary and all
68	68	38monetary awards shall be granted only at the discretion of the state secretary subject to available
69	69	39appropriations in the Polling Location Accessibility Fund established pursuant to section 35R of
70	70	40chapter 10 of the General Laws.