THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WATERS, YOUNGBLOOD, JOSEPHS, DONATUCCI AND SIPTROTH, MARCH 24, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 24, 2009  

AN ACT

Providing released prisoners with access to voter registration

materials; imposing duties on the Department of Corrections;

and making an appropriation.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Voter

Registration for Released Prisoners Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Department."  The Department of Corrections of the

Commonwealth.

"Institution."  Any of the following:

(1)  A State correctional facility.

(2)  A county correctional facility.

Section 3.  Program.

(a)  Materials.--The department shall make voter registration

materials available to administrators in every institution.

(b)  Distribution.--Upon release from an institution, an

inmate shall be provided with voter registration materials.

Section 9.  Appropriation.

The sum of $    , or as much thereof as may be necessary, is

hereby appropriated to the Department of Corrections for the

fiscal year July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010, to carry out the

provisions of this act.

Section 10.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.