Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB862 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5		Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6	6		Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7	7		amendment.
8		-	Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
9	8		hb0862
10	9
11	10		HOUSE BILL 862
12		-	G1 EMERGENCY BILL (2lr2165)
13		-	ENROLLED BILL
14		-	— Ways and Means/Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs —
15		-	Introduced by Delegate Feldmark
16		-
17		-	Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
18		-
19		-	_______________________________________________
20		-	Proofreader.
21		-	_______________________________________________
22		-	Proofreader.
23		-
24		-	Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
25		-
26		-	_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
27		-
28		-	______________________________________________
29		-	Speaker.
	11	+	G1 2lr2165
	12	+	HB 1068/21 – W&M
	13	+	By: Delegate Feldmark
	14	+	Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2022
	15	+	Assigned to: Ways and Means
	16	+	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
	17	+	House action: Adopted
	18	+	Read second time: March 8, 2022
30	19
31	20		CHAPTER ______
32	21
33	22		AN ACT concerning 1
34	23
35	24		Election Law – Ballot Canvassing – Multiple Ballots Cast by an Individual 2
36		-	Ballots – Processing and Reporting Procedures 3
37	25
38		-	FOR the purpose of altering the procedures for canvassing of and curing of errors on 4
39		-	absentee and provisional ballots when more than one ballot is cast by the same 5
40		-	individual in the same election; and generally relating to canvassing multiple ballots 6
41		-	cast by an individual in the same election; repealing the requirements that a certain 7
42		-	statement of election results be by precinct and that the local boards of elections 8
43		-	publish copies of the complete election results in a certain manner; requiring that a 9
44		-	certain report of election results by the State Board of Elections be reported by 10
45		-	precinct, including reports of the early, absentee, and provisional vote; and generally 11
46		-	relating to ballot processing and reporting procedures. 12
	26	+	FOR the purpose of altering the procedures for canvassing absentee and provisional ballots 3
	27	+	when more than one ballot is cast by the same individual in the same election; and 4
	28	+	generally relating to canvassing multiple ballots cast by an individual in the same 5
	29	+	election. 6
47	30
48		-	BY repealing 13
49		-	Article – Election Law 14 2 HOUSE BILL 862
	31	+	BY repealing 7
	32	+	Article – Election Law 8
	33	+	Section 11–302(d)(4) 9
	34	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 10
	35	+	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 11
	36	+
	37	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
	38	+	Article – Election Law 13
	39	+	Section 11–302(d)(4) 11–302(d)(5) and (6) and 11–303(d)(2) 14
	40	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 15
	41	+	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 16
	42	+
	43	+	BY adding to 17
	44	+	Article – Election Law 18
	45	+	Section 11–303.2 19
	46	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 20
	47	+	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 21
	48	+	2 HOUSE BILL 862
50	49
51	50
52		-	Section 11–302(d)(4) 1
53		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 2
54		-	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 3
	51	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
	52	+	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
55	53
56		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4
57		-	Article – Election Law 5
58		-	Section 11–302(d)(4) 11–302(d)(5) and (6) and 11–303(d)(2) Section 11–101, 11–302, 6
59		-	11–303(d), and 11–402 7
60		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 8
61		-	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 9
	54	+	Article – Election Law 3
62	55
63		-	BY adding to 10
64		-	Article – Election Law 11
65		-	Section 11–303.2 12
66		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 13
67		-	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 14
	56	+	11–302. 4
68	57
69		-	~~SECTION 1.~~ ~~BE IT ENACTED BY~~ THE ~~GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,~~ 15
70		-	~~That~~ the ~~Laws of Maryland read as follows~~: 16
	58	+	(d) (4) (I) If the local board receives more than one legally sufficient 5
	59	+	ABSENTEE ballot, in separate envelopes, from the same individual, the local board shall: 6
71	60
72		-	Article – Election Law 17
	61	+	[(i)] 1. count only the [ballot with the latest properly signed oath] 7
	62	+	FIRST LEGALLY SUFFIC IENT ABSENTEE BALLOT RECEIVED; and 8
73	63
74		-	~~11–101~~. 18
	64	+	[(ii)] 2. reject any other ABSENTEE ballot. 9
75	65
76		-	(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
	66	+	[(5)] (4) If the intent of the voter is not clearly demonstrated, the local 10
	67	+	board shall reject only the vote for that office or question. 11
77	68
78		-	(b) ~~“Board of canvassers”~~ ~~means the local board of elections in~~ a ~~county after the 20~~
79		-	~~local board organizes itself for the purpose of canvassing~~ the vote ~~[after]~~ FOR ~~an election in 21~~
80		-	~~that county~~. 22
	69	+	[(6)] (5) If an absentee voter casts a vote for an individual who has ceased 12
	70	+	to be a candidate, the vote for that candidate may not be counted, but that vote does not 13
	71	+	invalidate the remainder of the ballot. 14
81	72
82		-	(c) (1) “Canvass” means the entire process of vote tallying, vote tabulation, and 23
83		-	vote verification [or audit], culminating in the production and certification of the official 24
84		-	election results. 25
	73	+	(II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS 15
	74	+	PARAGRAPH , IF THE LOCAL BOARD R ECEIVES A LEGALLY SU FFICIENT ABSENTEE 16
	75	+	BALLOT AND A PROVISI ONAL BALLOT FROM THE SAME INDIVIDUAL, THE LOCAL 17
	76	+	BOARD SHALL : 18
85	77
86		-	(2) For absentee ballots, the “canvass” includes the opening of any envelope 26
87		-	accompanying an absentee ballot and the assembly and review of absentee ballots in 27
88		-	preparation for vote tallying. 28
	78	+	1. COUNT THE ABSENTEE B ALLOT; AND 19
89	79
90		-	(3) For provisional ballots, the “canvass” includes the review of the 29
91		-	provisional ballot applications described in § 11–303 of this title and the assembly and 30
92		-	review of provisional ballots in preparation for vote tallying. 31
	80	+	2. REJECT THE PROVISION AL BALLOT. 20
93	81
94		-	(4) For votes cast during early voting, the “canvass” includes the tabulation 32
95		-	of votes cast during early voting. 33
	82	+	(III) IF THE LOCAL BOARD RE CEIVES A LEGALLY SUF FICIENT 21
	83	+	ABSENTEE BALLOT AFTE R A PROVISIONAL BALL OT FROM THE SAME VOT ER HAS 22
	84	+	BEEN CANVASSED , THE LOCAL BOARD SHAL L REJECT THE ABSENTE E BALLOT. 23
96	85
97		-	(5) For votes cast in a special election conducted by mail under Title 9, 34
98		-	Subtitle 5 of this article, the “canvass” includes: 35 HOUSE BILL 862 3
	86	+	11–303. 24
	87	+
	88	+	(d) (2) The local board shall reject a provisional ballot if: 25
	89	+
	90	+	(i) pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection, the local board 26
	91	+	determines that the individual who cast the provisional ballot is not qualified to vote that 27
	92	+	provisional ballot; 28
	93	+
	94	+	(ii) the individual failed to sign the oath on the provisional ballot 29
	95	+	application; OR 30
	96	+	HOUSE BILL 862 3
99	97
100	98
	99	+	(iii) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N § 11–302(D)(4)(III) OF THIS 1
	100	+	SUBTITLE, the individual cast more than one ballot for the same election; or 2
101	101
102		-	(i) the opening of any envelope accompanying a vote–by–mail ballot 1
103		-	and the assembly and review of vote–by–mail ballots in preparation for vote tabulation; and 2
	102	+	(iv) the local board determines that a provisional ballot is 3
	103	+	intentionally marked with an identifying mark that is clearly evident and placed on the 4
	104	+	ballot for the purpose of identifying the ballot. 5
104	105
105		-	~~(ii) the tabulation of vote~~–~~by–mail ballots~~. 3
	106	+	11–303.2. 6
106	107
107		-	~~(d) “Counting center” means one or more central locations designated by~~ a local 4
108		-	~~board to conduct~~ the ~~canvass. 5~~
	108	+	IF A LOCAL BOARD R ECEIVES MORE THAN ON E BALLOT, IN SEPARATE 7
	109	+	ENVELOPES, FROM THE SAME INDIVI DUAL, THE LOCAL BOARD SHAL L: 8
109	110
110		-	(e) ~~“Removable data storage device”~~ ~~means a read–only memory device~~ that is 6
111		-	~~programmed~~ to ~~record votes as they are cast on an electronic voting system. 7~~
	111	+	(1) COUNT THE FIRST BALL OT FROM THE INDIVIDU AL THAT IS 9
	112	+	DETERMINED TO BE LEG ALLY SUFFICIENT ; AND 10
112	113
113		-	(f) (1) “Unofficial returns” means [a] vote [tabulation] TOTALS reported on 8
114		-	election night after the polls close. 9
	114	+	(2) REJECT ANY OTHER BAL LOT. 11
115	115
116		-	(2) “Unofficial returns” does not include [the absentee ballot count or] the 10
117		-	provisional ballot count. 11
118		-
119		-	(g) “Vote tabulation” or “vote counting” means the aggregation of the votes cast by 12
120		-	individual voters to produce vote totals at any level. 13
121		-
122		-	(h) “Vote tallying” means the recording of votes cast by individual voters on a 14
123		-	certified voting system [whether done by: 15
124		-
125		-	(1) a mechanical lever voting machine; 16
126		-
127		-	(2) an electronic voting device; or 17
128		-
129		-	(3) making marks manually on a tally sheet]. 18
130		-
131		-	11–302. 19
132		-
133		-	(a) (1) [Following an election, each] EACH local board shall meet at its 20
134		-	designated counting center to canvass the absentee ballots cast in that election in accordance 21
135		-	with the regulations and guidelines established by the State Board. 22
136		-
137		-	(2) PROMPTLY AFTER RECEIP T OF AN ABSENTEE BALLO T, A LOCAL 23
138		-	BOARD SHALL REVIEW T HE BALLOT ENVELOPE O R BALLOT/RETURN ENVELOPE FOR 24
139		-	THE OMISSION OF THE VOTER’S SIGNATURE ON THE O ATH. 25
140		-
141		-	(b) (1) [A] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION A ND 26
142		-	EXCEPT AS PROVIDED I N SUBSECTION (A)(2) OF THIS SECTION, A local board may not 27
143		-	[open] ACCEPT, REJECT, OPEN, OR PROCESS any [envelope of an] absentee ballot [prior 28
144		-	to] BEFORE 8 a.m. on the [Wednesday following election day] DAY THAT IS 8 BUSINESS 29
145		-	DAYS BEFORE THE FIRS T DAY OF EARLY VOTIN G. 30
146		-	4 HOUSE BILL 862
147		-
148		-
149		-	(2) A local board may not delay the commencement of the canvass to await 1
150		-	the receipt of late–arriving, timely absentee ballots. 2
151		-
152		-	(3) A LOCAL BOARD OR AN EM PLOYEE OF A LOCAL BOARD MAY NOT 3
153		-	TABULATE ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTE TOTALS B EFORE THE POLLS CLOS E ON 4
154		-	ELECTION DAY. 5
155		-
156		-	(c) (1) An absentee ballot shall be deemed timely received if it is received in 6
157		-	accordance with the regulations and guidelines established by the State Board. 7
158		-
159		-	(2) An absentee ballot that is received after the deadline specified by the 8
160		-	regulations and guidelines may not be counted. 9
161		-
162		-	(d) (1) The State Board shall adopt regulations that reflect the policy that the 10
163		-	clarity of the intent of the voter is the overriding consideration in determining the validity 11
164		-	of an absentee ballot or the vote cast in a particular contest. 12
165		-
166		-	(2) [A] SUBJECT TO § 11–303.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A local board may 13
167		-	not reject an absentee ballot except by unanimous vote and in accordance with regulations 14
168		-	of the State Board. 15
169		-
170		-	(3) The local board shall reject an absentee ballot if: 16
171		-
172		-	(i) the voter failed to sign the oath on the ballot envelope OR 17
173		-	BALLOT/RETURN ENVELOPE AND FAILED TO CORREC T THE OMISSION BEFOR E 10 18
174		-	A.M. ON THE DAY THAT IS 10 DAYS AFTER ELECTION DAY; 19
175		-
176		-	(ii) the local board received more than one ballot from the same 20
177		-	individual for the same election in the same ballot envelope; or 21
178		-
179		-	(iii) the local board determines that an absentee ballot is intentionally 22
180		-	marked with an identifying mark that is clearly evident and placed on the ballot for the 23
181		-	purpose of identifying the ballot. 24
182		-
183		-	(4) (I) THE STATE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS 25
184		-	REQUIRING A LOCAL BO ARD TO: 26
185		-
186		-	1. AS SOON AS PRACTICAB LE BUT NOT LATER THA N 3 27
187		-	BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS DETERMINED TH AT A VOTER 28
188		-	FAILED TO SIGN THE O ATH ON THE BALLOT EN VELOPE OR BALLOT /RETURN 29
189		-	ENVELOPE, NOTIFY THE VOTER OF THE FAILURE; AND 30
190		-
191		-	2. PROVIDE THE VOTER AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRE CT 31
192		-	THE OMISSION AND HAV E THE BALLOT COUNTED. 32
193		-	HOUSE BILL 862 5
194		-
195		-
196		-	(II) THE REGULATIONS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL ALLOW 1
197		-	A VOTER TO: 2
198		-
199		-	1. SUPPLY A SIGNATURE T O THE LOCAL BOARD 3
200		-	THROUGH A DIGITAL PI CTURE MESSAGE SENT B Y E–MAIL OR, BEGINNING JUNE 1, 4
201		-	2023, MOBILE TELEPHONE , IF THE VOTER FAILED TO SIGN THE OATH ON THE BALLOT 5
202		-	ENVELOPE OR BALLOT /RETURN ENVELOPE ; AND 6
203		-
204		-	2. CHOOSE AMONG MULTIPL E METHODS OF 7
205		-	COMMUNICATING WITH T HE LOCAL BOARD TO CO RRECT THE FAILURE TO SIGN THE 8
206		-	OATH ON THE BALLOT E NVELOPE OR BALLOT /RETURN ENVELOPE , INCLUDING: 9
207		-
208		-	A. E–MAIL; 10
209		-
210		-	B. A MAILED FORM ; 11
211		-
212		-	C. AN IN–PERSON VISIT TO THE LOCAL BOARD OFFICE ; 12
213		-	AND 13
214		-
215		-	D. BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2023, TEXT MESSAGE AND AN 14
216		-	ACCESSIBLE ONLINE PO RTAL. 15
217		-
218		-	[(4) If the local board receives more than one legally sufficient ballot, in 16
219		-	separate envelopes, from the same individual, the local board shall: 17
220		-
221		-	(i) count only the ballot with the latest properly signed oath; and 18
222		-
223		-	(ii) reject any other ballot.] 19
224		-
225		-	(5) If the intent of the voter is not clearly demonstrated, the local board shall 20
226		-	reject only the vote for that office or question. 21
227		-
228		-	(6) If an absentee voter casts a vote for an individual who has ceased to be 22
229		-	a candidate, the vote for that candidate may not be counted, but that vote does not invalidate 23
230		-	the remainder of the ballot. 24
231		-
232		-	(e) [At] BEGINNING AFTER THE POLLS C LOSE ON ELECTION DAY , AT the end 25
233		-	of each day of canvassing, a local board shall prepare and release a report of the unofficial 26
234		-	[results] RETURNS of the absentee ballot vote tabulation. 27
235		-
236		-	(d) (4) (I) If the local board receives more than one legally sufficient 28
237		-	ABSENTEE ballot, in separate envelopes, from the same individual, the local board shall: 29
238		-
239		-	[(i)] 1. count only the [ballot with the latest properly signed oath] 30
240		-	FIRST LEGALLY SUFFIC IENT ABSENTE E BALLOT RECEIVED ; and 31 6 HOUSE BILL 862
241		-
242		-
243		-
244		-	[(ii)] 2. reject any other ABSENTEE ballot. 1
245		-
246		-	[(5)] (4) If the intent of the voter is not clearly demonstrated, the local 2
247		-	board shall reject only the vote for that office or question. 3
248		-
249		-	[(6)] (5) If an absentee voter casts a vote for an individual who has ceased 4
250		-	to be a candidate, the vote for that candidate may not be counted, but that vote does not 5
251		-	invalidate the remainder of the ballot. 6
252		-
253		-	(II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS 7
254		-	PARAGRAPH , IF THE LOCAL BOARD RECEIVES A LEGALLY S UFFICIENT ABSENTEE 8
255		-	BALLOT AND A PROVISI ONAL BALLOT FROM THE SAME INDIVIDUAL , THE LOCAL 9
256		-	BOARD SHALL : 10
257		-
258		-	1. COUNT THE ABSENTEE B ALLOT; AND 11
259		-
260		-	2. REJECT THE PROVISION AL BALLOT. 12
261		-
262		-	(III) IF THE LOCAL BOARD RE CEIVES A LEGALLY SUF FICIENT 13
263		-	ABSENTEE BALLOT AFTE R A PROVISIONAL BALL OT FROM THE SAME VOT ER HAS 14
264		-	BEEN CANVASSED , THE LOCAL BOARD SHAL L REJECT THE ABSENTE E BALLOT. 15
265		-
266		-	11–303. 16
267		-
268		-	(d) (2) The local board shall reject a provisional ballot if: 17
269		-
270		-	(i) pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection, the local board 18
271		-	determines that the individual who cast the provisional ballot is not qualified to vote that 19
272		-	provisional ballot; 20
273		-
274		-	(ii) the individual failed to sign the oath on the provisional ballot 21
275		-	application; OR 22
276		-
277		-	(iii) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 11–302(D)(4)(III) OF THIS 23
278		-	SUBTITLE, the individual cast more than one ballot for the same election; or 24
279		-
280		-	(iv) the local board determines that a provisional ballot is 25
281		-	intentionally marked with an identifying mark that is clearly evident and placed on the 26
282		-	ballot for the purpose of identifying the ballot. 27
283		-
284		-	11–303. 28
285		-	HOUSE BILL 862 7
286		-
287		-
288		-	(d) (1) [A] SUBJECT TO § 11–303.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A local board may 1
289		-	not reject a provisional ballot except by unanimous vote and in accordance with regulations 2
290		-	of the State Board. 3
291		-
292		-	(2) The local board shall reject a provisional ballot if: 4
293		-
294		-	(i) pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection, the local board 5
295		-	determines that the individual who cast the provisional ballot is not qualified to vote that 6
296		-	provisional ballot; 7
297		-
298		-	(ii) the individual failed to sign the oath on the provisional ballot 8
299		-	application; OR 9
300		-
301		-	(iii) [the individual cast more than one ballot for the same election; or 10
302		-
303		-	(iv)] the local board determines that a provisional ballot is 11
304		-	intentionally marked with an identifying mark that is clearly evident and placed on the 12
305		-	ballot for the purpose of identifying the ballot. 13
306		-
307		-	(3) If the intent of the voter with respect to a particular contest is not clearly 14
308		-	demonstrated, the local board shall reject only the vote for that contest. 15
309		-
310		-	(4) For the purposes of this section, an individual is qualified to vote the 16
311		-	provisional ballot cast if the local board determines that: 17
312		-
313		-	(i) the individual is registered in the State; 18
314		-
315		-	(ii) if the provisional ballot was cast because the voter failed to 19
316		-	provide required identification, the individual who cast the provisional ballot has met the 20
317		-	identification requirements established by the State Board; and 21
318		-
319		-	(iii) if the provisional ballot was cast during a period covered by a 22
320		-	court order or other order extending the time for closing the polls, the order has not been 23
321		-	invalidated by a subsequent court order. 24
322		-
323		-	11–303.2. 25
324		-
325		-	IF A LOCAL BOARD RECE IVES MORE THAN ONE B ALLOT, IN SEPARATE 26
326		-	ENVELOPES, FROM THE SAME INDIVI DUAL, THE LOCAL BOARD SHAL L: 27
327		-
328		-	(1) COUNT THE FIRST BALL OT FROM THE INDIVIDU AL THAT IS 28
329		-	DETERMINED TO BE LEG ALLY SUFFICIENT ; AND 29
330		-
331		-	(2) REJECT ANY OTHER BAL LOT. 30
332		-
333		-	11–402. 31 8 HOUSE BILL 862
334		-
335		-
336		-
337		-	(a) Unless otherwise provided by the Maryland Constitution, and [except as 1
338		-	provided in] SUBJECT TO subsection (b) of this section, each board of canvassers shall 2
339		-	prepare a statement of election results [by precinct] for each candidate or question voted on 3
340		-	at the election and declare: 4
341		-
342		-	(1) who is elected or nominated for office: 5
343		-
344		-	(i) in county government; or 6
345		-
346		-	(ii) for any other office voted for only within that county, if the 7
347		-	certificate of candidacy for that office was issued by the local board; and 8
348		-
349		-	(2) whether or not a question is adopted or approved. 9
350		-
351		-	(b) The statement prepared by the board of canvassers under SUBSECTION (A) OF 10
352		-	this section [may not] SHALL report the EARLY, absentee, AND PROVISIONAL vote 11
353		-	separately [by precinct]. 12
354		-
355		-	[(c) Each local board shall publish a sufficient number of copies of the complete 13
356		-	election results, tabulated by precinct, and shall make the copies available to the public at 14
357		-	cost.] 15
358		-
359		-	[(d)] (C) (1) In addition to the statement of election results specified under 16
360		-	subsection (a) of this section, the State Board shall make available in an electronic format a 17
361		-	report of election results for each candidate or question voted on at the election: 18
362		-
363		-	(i) by precinct, INCLUDING THE EARLY , ABSENTEE, AND 19
364		-	PROVISIONAL VOTE ; 20
365		-
366		-	(ii) by State legislative district, including any subdistrict; 21
367		-
368		-	(iii) by county legislative district; and 22
369		-
370		-	(iv) for each county as a whole. 23
371		-
372		-	(2) The State Board may make the report specified under paragraph (1) of 24
373		-	this subsection available to the public at cost. 25
374		-
375		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding § 26
376		-	11–302(b)(3) of the Election Law Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, only during the 27
377		-	2022 statewide primary election, a local board of elections or an employee of a local board: 28
378		-
379		-	(1) may tabulate absentee ballot vote totals before the polls close on election 29
380		-	day; and 30
381		-	HOUSE BILL 862 9
382		-
383		-
384		-	(2) may not release absentee ballot vote totals before the polls close on 1
385		-	election day. 2
386		-
387		-	SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 3
388		-	June 1, 2022 is an emergency measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the 4
389		-	public health or safety, has been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of 5
390		-	all the members elected to each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take 6
391		-	effect from the date it is enacted. 7
	116	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 12
	117	+	1, 2022. 13
392	118
393	119
394	120
395	121
396	122		Approved:
397	123		________________________________________________________________________________
398	124		Governor.
399	125		________________________________________________________________________________
400	126		Speaker of the House of Delegates.
401	127		________________________________________________________________________________
402	128		President of the Senate.