Date: 01/22/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1018

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment A). Th
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1018, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection
PASS



09:52 AM -- House Bill 09-1018

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Representative Bradford, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1018, concerning the removal of obsolete language in statutory provisions implementing the statewide voter registration and election system for purposes of compliance with the federal "Help America Vote Act." Representative Bradford explained the purpose of the bill and why the changes in law are needed. Discussion ensued regarding a forthcoming amendment. Representative Bradford explained the Statewide Colorado Registration and Election System (SCORE) and its relationship to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Representative Bradford responded to questions regarding her reasons for running the bill, and the opinions of the Secretary of State and county clerks on the bill.


10:02 AM

Discussion ensued regarding a forthcoming amendment, L.001 (Attachment A). The committee then moved amendment L.001. Representative Bradford responded to questions regarding how it was decided that the statutes implementing SCORE should be amended to remove obsolete language.

090122AttachA.pdf


10:05 AM

The following persons testified regarding House Bill 09-1018:


10:05 AM -- Mr. Kirpal Singh, representing America Votes, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Singh explained the work of his organization, and registered objections to a provision in the bill that changes certain deadlines for counties to forward voter registration information to the Secretary of State. Discussion ensued regarding the restoration of the deadlines by amendment L.001. Mr. Singh briefly explained the provisions in HAVA that pertain to SCORE. Discussion returned to the deadlines for counties to transmit certain information to the Secretary of State.


10:11 AM -- Mr. Richard Coolidge, representing the Secretary of State, testified in favor of House Bill 09-1018. Mr. Coolidge provided background on how voter registration information was confirmed prior to the implementation of SCORE, and clarified the functions performed by SCORE. Mr. Coolidge then discussed the reasons for the changes being made by House Bill 09-1018 and amendment L.001. Mr. Coolidge responded to questions regarding the deadline for counties to transmit voter registration information to the Secretary of State under the bill. Mr. Coolidge responded to further questions regarding the placement of certain department rules into state law by the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the tolling of certain pre- and post-election voter registration information deadlines to which the Department of State and county clerks must adhere.


10:21 AM

Discussion continued regarding the pre- and post-election voter registration information deadlines. Discussion followed regarding the process by which an elector is registered in a different county when moving between counties under House Bill 09-1018.


10:25 AM -- Clerks Jack Arrowsmith and Karen Long, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association, testified in favor of the bill. Clerk Arrowsmith discussed the benefits of removing certain reporting requirements from statute that are maintained under SCORE, and the flow of election-related information during the recent general election. Clerks Arrowsmith and Long clarified the need for the bill's treatment of certain pre- and post-election voter registration and information deadlines, as discussed during earlier testimony. Clerk Long responded to questions regarding emergency voter registration. Clerks Long and Arrowsmith responded to questions regarding the number of voters who registered under emergency voter registration provisions during the most recent general election. Representative Bradford addressed questions regarding voter registration information transmission deadlines previously raised. Discussion ensued regarding the process by which voter information is matched when a voter moves to and registers to vote in a different county under House Bill 09-1018.


10:36 AM

Discussion continued regarding voter registration by the counties, and the processing of voter registration information.


10:37 AM
BILL:HB09-1018
TIME: 10:37:33 AM
MOVED:Massey
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Casso
Court
Hullinghorst
Lambert
Massey
McCann
Miklosi
Murray
Nikkel
Labuda
Todd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB09-1018
TIME: 10:38:02 AM
MOVED:Murray
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1018, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Casso
VOTE
Casso
Yes
Court
Yes
Hullinghorst
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCann
Yes
Miklosi
Yes
Murray
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Todd
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS