Date: 04/28/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-277

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion p
Refer Senate Bill 15-277, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



11:12 AM -- SB15-277

Senators Woods and Lundberg, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 15-277 to the committee. The bill requires, to the extent permitted by interstate compacts providing access between states to voter registration information, beginning February 1, 2016, and not later than February 1 each year thereafter, the Secretary of State to check the voter registration information of each elector whose name appears in the statewide voter registration system against the most recent information maintained for any elector:

• in the national change of address database administered by the United States Postal Service; and
• in the database of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR).

If the Secretary of State uncovers any discrepancy between a registered elector's information in the statewide voter registration system and the national change of address database or the motor vehicle database, or if the elector's name does not appear in either database, the Secretary of State must share information about the discrepancy to the appropriate county clerk and recorder. County clerks and recorders who are notified of potential discrepancies must notify the registered elector with a letter requiring the registered elector to verify their identity with proper government-issued identification. If a registered elector does not respond to the letter or fails to provide proper identification, the registered elector will be marked as "inactive." In addition, county clerks and recorders may cancel the voter registration of any such inactive elector who fails to vote in two consecutive general elections. By May 1, 2016, and each May 1 thereafter, county clerks and recorders must submit a report to the Secretary of State summarizing compliance.

Senator Woods explained that the bill would help clean up the voter rolls, particularly in cases where voters have moved. She asked for support for amendment L.001 (Attachment B). Senator Lundberg described his experience running for office and the number of voters who remain on the registration rolls erroneously. Senator Woods noted that the amendment strikes the bill's photo ID requirement.

15SenateState0428AttachB.pdf15SenateState0428AttachB.pdf

11:17 AM -- Elena Nunez, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified against the bill. She noted the importance of clean voter rolls and identified existing provisions to achieve this. She expressed concerns with how the bill would interact with existing law. She added that the bill could conflict with the National Voter Registration Act.

Senator Jones and Senator Ulibarri discussed the bill with Ms. Nunez.

11:22 AM -- Suzanne Staiert, Deputy Secretary of State, testified on the bill. She discussed the importance of accuracy in the voter rolls. She described certain technical issues with the bill. Ms. Staiert explained that the Secretary of State already participates in ERIC and the Kansas Cross-Check, as well as conducting national change of address database (NCOA) searches. She added that temporary moves could be problematic under the bill.


11:27 AM

Senator Woods discussed amendment L.001, and she noted that the county clerks are neutral on the bill. Senator Lundberg expressed willingness to address technical issues with the bill.
BILL:SB15-277
TIME: 11:30:44 AM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Jones
Ulibarri
Sonnenberg
Scott
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


11:30 AM

Committee members commented on the bill.
BILL:SB15-277
TIME: 11:33:20 AM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-277, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Yes
Jones
No
Ulibarri
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS