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PRINTER'S NO. 3868
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2562
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, MILLARD, LONGIETTI, READSHAW, HELM,
THOMAS, SCHLOSSBERG, WARD, DRISCOLL, PICKETT, DALEY AND
NESBIT, JULY 17, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JULY 17, 2018
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," providing for the Pennsylvania Election Law
Advisory Board.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIII-D
Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board
Section 1301-D. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board." The Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board
established under section 1302-D(a).
"Department." The Department of State of the Commonwealth.
Section 1302-D. Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory
Board is established within the department.
(b) Members.--The board shall be comprised of the following
members:
(1) The Secretary of State or a designee.
(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate or a
designee.
(3) The Minority Leader of the Senate or a designee.
(4) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a
designee.
(5) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
or a designee.
(6) Twenty members appointed by the Governor, which
shall include members who:
(i) represent geographically and politically diverse
areas of this Commonwealth;
(ii) represent groups advocating for individuals
with disabilities;
(iii) represent groups advocating for minorities;
(iv) represent groups advocating for voting rights;
(v) represent county commissioners;
(vi) represent county election officials; and
(vii) are experts in the fields of computer
security, network security, cyber risk and resilience
assessment, internal controls accounting, information
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technology auditing and statistics.
(c) Duties.--The board shall have the following duties:
(1) Study the Pennsylvania Election Code and identify
statutory language to repeal, modify or update.
(2) Collaborate with other agencies and political
subdivisions of the Commonwealth to study election-related
issues.
(3) Study the development of new election technology and
voting machines.
(4) Evaluate and make recommendations on:
(i) improving the electoral process in Pennsylvania
by amending the Pennsylvania Election Code; and
(ii) implementing best practices identified to
ensure the integrity and efficiency of the electoral
process in Pennsylvania.
(5) By the end of each fiscal year, publish extensive
and detailed findings on the department's publicly accessible
Internet website and make them available in electronic format
to the Office of the Governor and members of the General
Assembly.
(d) Quorum.--A majority of appointed members shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.
(e) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The members shall
select a member to be chairperson and another member to be vice
chairperson.
(f) Transparency and ethics.--The board shall be subject to
the following laws:
(1) The act of July 19, 1957 (P.L.1017, No.451), known
as the State Adverse Interest Act.
(2) The act of October 4, 1978 (P.L.883, No.170),
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referred to as the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law.
(3) The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as
the Right-to-Know Law.
(4) 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
(g) Information gathering.--The board may conduct hearings
and otherwise gather pertinent information and analysis that it
considers appropriate and necessary to fulfill its duties.
(h) Logistical and other support.--The board shall receive
logistical and other support from the Joint State Government
Commission and may employ additional temporary staff as needed.
(i) Reimbursement.--The board and members of the board shall
be reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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