Bill Text: OR HB3179 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to voter registration; declaring an emergency.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB3179 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HB3179-Introduced.html

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     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 3016

                         House Bill 3179

Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Directs Secretary of State to designate Department of Revenue
as voter registration agency.
  Becomes operative January 1, 2014.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to voter registration; creating new provisions; amending
  ORS 247.208; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 247.208 is amended to read:
  247.208. (1) { + (a) + } The Secretary of State by rule, in
accordance with the requirements of the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-31), shall designate agencies
as voter registration agencies. Agencies designated may include
state, county, city or district offices and federal and
nongovernmental offices with the agreement of the federal or
nongovernmental offices.
   { +  (b) The secretary shall designate the Department of
Revenue as a voter registration agency. + }
  (2) Services required by the National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (P.L. 103-31) shall be made available in connection with any
registration card at each voter registration agency designated by
the Secretary of State.
  (3) A person providing services referred to in subsection (2)
of this section at a voter registration agency   { - shall - }
 { + may  + }not:
  (a) Seek to influence the political preference or party
registration of a person registering to vote;
  (b) In accordance with provisions of the Oregon Constitution,
display such political preference or party allegiance;
  (c) Make any statement to a person registering to vote or take
any action the purpose or effect of which is to discourage a
person from registering to vote;
  (d) Make any statement to a person registering to vote or take
any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the person
to believe that a decision to register or not to register has any
bearing on the availability of services or benefits; or
  (e) Seek to induce any person to register or vote in any
particular manner.
  (4) Each state agency required to be designated a voter
registration agency under the National Voter Registration Act of
1993 (P.L. 103-31)  { + or under this section, + } shall, with
each application for service or assistance and with each
recertification, renewal or change of address form relating to
the service or assistance:
  (a) Distribute a registration card, including all statements
required under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L.
103-31); and
  (b) Provide a form including other information required by the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-31).
  (5) Information relating to a declination to register to vote
in connection with an application made at an office described in
subsection (4) of this section shall not be used for any purpose
other than voter registration.
  (6) A completed registration card accepted at a voter
registration agency designated under this section shall be
delivered to a county clerk or the Secretary of State.
  (7) At least once each biennium, the Secretary of State shall:
  (a) Assess new and developing federal guidelines regarding
compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L.
103-31);
  (b) Identify steps necessary to ensure ongoing compliance with
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-31);
  (c) Identify barriers to and research opportunities for
ensuring the accuracy, security and efficiency of current voter
registration processes at voter registration agencies designated
under this section; and
  (d) Identify ways to improve use of current technology.
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) Section 1 of this 2013 Act becomes
operative on January 1, 2014.
  (2) The Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue may
take any action necessary before the operative date specified in
subsection (1) of this section to enable the secretary and
department to exercise, on and after the operative date specified
in subsection (1) of this section, all the duties, functions and
powers conferred on the secretary and department by section 1 of
this 2013 Act. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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