CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  4  ______________________________________________________________

  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Representative(s) Gannon offered the following:

12

13         Amendment to Amendment (152507) (with title amendment) 

14         On page 6, lines 8-9,

15  remove:  all of said lines

16

17  and insert:

18         Section 7.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsections (2)

19  through (31) of section 97.021, Florida Statutes, as amended

20  by section 2 of chapter 2001-40, Laws of Florida, are

21  renumbered as subsections (3) through (32), respectively,

22  subsections (32) and (33) of that section are renumbered as

23  subsections (34) and (35), respectively, subsections (34)

24  through (36) of that section are renumbered as subsections

25  (37) through (38), respectively, and new subsections (2),

26  (33), and (36) are added to that section to read:

27         97.021  Definitions.--For the purposes of this code,

28  except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the

29  term:

30         (2)  "Alternative formats" has the meaning ascribed in

31  the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  101-336, 42 U.S.C. ss. 12101 et seq., including specifically

  2  the technical-assistance manuals promulgated there under, as

  3  amended.

  4         (33)  "Tactile input device" means a device that

  5  provides information to a voting system by means of a voter

  6  touching the device, such as a keyboard, and which complies

  7  with the requirements of s. 101.56062(1)(k) and (l).

  8         (36)  "Voter interface device" means any device that

  9  communicates voting instructions and ballot information to a

10  voter and allows the voter to select and vote for candidates

11  and issues.

12         Section 8.  Effective July 1, 2002, section 97.026,

13  Florida Statutes, is created to read:

14         97.026  Forms to be available in alternative formats

15  and via the Internet.--All forms required to be used in

16  chapters 97-106 shall be made available upon request, in

17  alternative formats. Such forms shall include absentee ballots

18  as alternative formats for absentee ballots become available

19  and the Division of Elections is able to certify systems that

20  provide them. Whenever possible, such forms, with the

21  exception of absentee ballots, shall be made available by the

22  Department of State via the Internet. Sections that contain

23  such forms include, but are not limited to, ss. 97.051,

24  97.052, 97.053, 97.057, 97.058, 97.0583, 97.071, 97.073,

25  97.1031, 98.055, 98.075, 99.021, 100.361, 100.371, 101.045,

26  101.171, 101.20, 101.6103, 101.62, 101.64, 101.65, 101.657,

27  105.031, 106.023, and 106.087.

28         Section 9.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (1) of

29  section 98.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

30         98.065  Registration list maintenance programs.--

31         (1)  The supervisor must conduct a general registration

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  list maintenance program to protect the integrity of the

  2  electoral process by ensuring the maintenance of accurate and

  3  current voter registration records. The program must be

  4  uniform, nondiscriminatory, and in compliance with the Voting

  5  Rights Act of 1965. As used in this subsection, the term

  6  "nondiscriminatory" applies to and includes persons with

  7  disabilities.

  8         Section 10.  Effective July 1, 2002, section 98.122,

  9  Florida Statutes, is created to read:

10         98.122  Use of closed captioning and descriptive

11  narrative in all television broadcasts.--Each candidate,

12  political party, and political committee must use closed

13  captioning and descriptive narrative in all television

14  broadcasts regulated by the Federal Communications Commission

15  which are on behalf of, or sponsored by, a candidate,

16  political party, or political committee or file a written

17  statement with the qualifying officer setting forth the

18  reasons for not doing so. Failure to file this statement with

19  the appropriate qualifying officer constitutes a violation of

20  the Florida Election Code and is under the jurisdiction of the

21  Florida Elections Commission. The Department of State may

22  adopt rules in accordance with s. 120.54 which are necessary

23  to administer this section.

24         Section 11.  Effective July 1, 2002, paragraphs (a) and

25  (d) of subsection (1) of section 100.361, Florida Statutes,

26  are amended to read:

27         100.361  Municipal recall.--

28         (1)  RECALL PETITION.--Any member of the governing body

29  of a municipality or charter county, hereinafter referred to

30  in this section as "municipality," may be removed from office

31  by the electors of the municipality.  When the official

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  represents a district and is elected only by electors residing

  2  in that district, only electors from that district are

  3  eligible to sign the petition to recall that official and are

  4  entitled to vote in the recall election. When the official

  5  represents a district and is elected at-large by the electors

  6  of the municipality, all electors of the municipality are

  7  eligible to sign the petition to recall that official and are

  8  entitled to vote in the recall election. Where used in this

  9  section, the term "district" shall be construed to mean the

10  area or region of a municipality from which a member of the

11  governing body is elected by the electors from such area or

12  region.  Members may be removed from office by the following

13  procedure:

14         (a)  A petition shall be prepared naming the person

15  sought to be recalled and containing a statement of grounds

16  for recall in not more than 200 words limited solely to the

17  grounds specified in paragraph (b).  If more than one member

18  of the governing body is sought to be recalled, whether such

19  member is elected by the electors of a district or by the

20  electors of the municipality at-large, a separate recall

21  petition shall be prepared for each member sought to be

22  recalled. Upon request, the content of a petition should, but

23  is not required to, be provided by the proponent in

24  alternative formats.

25         1.  In a municipality or district of fewer than 500

26  electors, the petition shall be signed by at least 50 electors

27  or by 10 percent of the total number of registered electors of

28  the municipality or district as of the preceding municipal

29  election, whichever is greater.

30         2.  In a municipality or district of 500 or more but

31  fewer than 2,000 registered electors, the petition shall be

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  signed by at least 100 electors or by 10 percent of the total

  2  number of registered electors of the municipality or district

  3  as of the preceding municipal election, whichever is greater.

  4         3.  In a municipality or district of 2,000 or more but

  5  fewer than 5,000 registered electors, the petition shall be

  6  signed by at least 250 electors or by 10 percent of the total

  7  number of registered electors of the municipality or district

  8  as of the preceding municipal election, whichever is greater.

  9         4.  In a municipality or district of 5,000 or more but

10  fewer than 10,000 registered electors, the petition shall be

11  signed by at least 500 electors or by 10 percent of the total

12  number of registered electors of the municipality or district

13  as of the preceding municipal election, whichever is greater.

14         5.  In a municipality or district of 10,000 or more but

15  fewer than 25,000 registered electors, the petition shall be

16  signed by at least 1,000 electors or by 10 percent of the

17  total number of registered electors of the municipality or

18  district as of the preceding municipal election, whichever is

19  greater.

20         6.  In a municipality or district of 25,000 or more

21  registered electors, the petition shall be signed by at least

22  1,000 electors or by 5 percent of the total number of

23  registered electors of the municipality or district as of the

24  preceding municipal election, whichever is greater.

25

26  Electors of the municipality or district making charges

27  contained in the statement of grounds for recall and those

28  signing the recall petition shall be designated as the

29  "committee."  A specific person shall be designated in the

30  petition as chair of the committee to act for the committee.

31  Electors of the municipality or district are eligible to sign

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  the petition. Signatures and oaths of witnesses shall be

  2  executed as provided in paragraph (c).  All signatures shall

  3  be obtained within a period of 30 days, and the petition shall

  4  be filed within 30 days after the date the first signature is

  5  obtained on the petition.

  6         (d)  The petition shall be filed with the auditor or

  7  clerk of the municipality or charter county, or his or her

  8  equivalent, hereinafter referred to as clerk, by the person

  9  designated as chair of the committee, and, when the petition

10  is filed, the clerk shall submit such petition to the county

11  supervisor of elections who shall, within a period of not more

12  than 30 days after the petition is filed with the supervisor,

13  determine whether the petition contains the required valid

14  signatures.  The petition cannot be amended after it is filed

15  with the clerk.  The supervisor shall be paid by the persons

16  or committee seeking verification the sum of 10 cents for each

17  name checked. Upon filing with the clerk, the petition and all

18  subsequent papers or forms required or permitted to be filed

19  with the clerk in connection with this section must, upon

20  request, be made available in alternative formats.

21         Section 12.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (3) of

22  section 100.371, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

23         100.371  Initiatives; procedure for placement on

24  ballot.--

25         (3)  The sponsor of an initiative amendment shall,

26  prior to obtaining any signatures, register as a political

27  committee pursuant to s. 106.03 and submit the text of the

28  proposed amendment to the Secretary of State, with the form on

29  which the signatures will be affixed, and shall obtain the

30  approval of the Secretary of State of such form.  The

31  Secretary of State shall adopt promulgate rules pursuant to s.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  120.54 prescribing the style and requirements of such form.

  2  Upon filing with the Secretary of State, the text of the

  3  proposed amendment and all forms filed in connection with this

  4  section must, upon request, be made available in alternative

  5  formats.

  6         Section 13.  Effective July 1, 2002, section 101.017,

  7  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  8         101.017  Bureau of Voting Systems Certification.--There

  9  is created a Bureau of Voting Systems Certification within the

10  Division of Elections of the Department of State which shall

11  provide technical support to the supervisors of elections and

12  which is responsible for voting system standards and

13  certification. The bureau shall cooperate and consult with the

14  Disability Advisory Council as provided in s. 101.018. The

15  positions necessary for the bureau to accomplish its duties

16  shall be established through the budgetary process.

17         Section 14.  Effective July 1, 2002, section 101.018,

18  Florida Statutes, is created to read:

19         101.018  Disability Advisory Council.--There is created

20  the Disability Advisory Council within the Department of

21  State. The Secretary of State shall appoint the members of the

22  Disability Advisory Council, which shall consist of nine

23  persons, all of whom must be knowledgeable in the area of

24  voting accessibility for persons having a disability, and a

25  majority of whom must be persons having a disability. The

26  membership must include a representative who is

27  hearing-impaired, a representative who is blind, a

28  representative who has developmental disabilities, and a

29  representative who has physical disabilities.

30         (1)  The council shall:

31         (a)  Advise and consult with the Bureau of Voting

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Systems Certification of the Division of Elections concerning

  2  the implementation of accessibility standards for voting

  3  systems and polling places, as such standards currently exist

  4  or as subsequently adopted.

  5         (b)  Advise and consult with the Division of Elections

  6  on the development of test procedures to verify compliance

  7  with standards for the accessibility of new voting systems,

  8  voting system components, and modules.

  9         (c)  Advise the Division of Elections on methods and

10  means to increase election participation by persons having a

11  disability.

12         (d)  Develop an accessibility survey for use by all

13  supervisors of elections to determine compliance with the

14  accessibility standards for polling places.

15         (e)  Recommend to the Secretary of State standards for

16  exemptions from the application of the accessibility standards

17  for polling places provided in s. 101.715.

18         (f)  Study and report to the Secretary of State, on an

19  ongoing basis, concerning voting via use of the Internet.

20         (g)  Study and report to the Secretary of State on

21  voting using telephones or telephone components, including

22  TTY/TDD. It is the intent of the Legislature that the

23  inclusion of this study as a function of the Disability

24  Advisory Council not prevent or delay the certification of any

25  voting system that uses telephones or telephone components

26  that are otherwise certifiable before the study.

27         (h)  Study and report to the Secretary of State on

28  whether the 5 pounds of force required to operate or activate

29  the controls on any voting system, as required in s.

30  101.56062, is low enough for persons who have limited strength

31  in their hands or fingers, including the elderly.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (i)  Compare the accessibility standards set forth in

  2  ss. 101.56062 and 101.715 with the voluntary Voting Systems

  3  Standards adopted by the Federal Elections Commission, and

  4  report to the Secretary of State on the results of the

  5  comparison.

  6         (j)  Study and report to the Secretary of State, on an

  7  ongoing basis, concerning the accessibility of absentee

  8  ballots to voters having a disability. It is the intent of the

  9  Legislature that all means of voting in this state, including

10  voting by absentee ballot, be fully accessible to voters who

11  have a disability.

12         (k)  Report annually to the Legislature suggestions for

13  how voting systems and procedures may be improved to increase

14  access for persons who have a disability.

15         (l)  Coordinate with the Division of Elections to

16  provide educational materials to the supervisors of elections

17  regarding the telecommunications relay system provided in s.

18  427.704.

19         (m)  Perform any additional functions deemed

20  appropriate by the Secretary of State relating to voting

21  accessibility by persons having a disability.

22         (2)  The terms for the first three council members

23  appointed after July 1, 2002, shall be for 4 years, the terms

24  for the next three council members appointed shall be for 3

25  years, and the terms for the next three members shall be for 2

26  years. Thereafter, all council member appointments shall be

27  for terms of 4 years. A council member may not serve more than

28  two 4-year terms. Any member of the council may be replaced by

29  the secretary after three unexcused absences.

30         (3)  Members of the council shall serve without

31  compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  and travel expenses as provided by s. 112.061.

  2         (4)  The council shall meet at least four times per

  3  year until September 1, 2004, and thereafter at least two

  4  times per year, at a time and place to be determined by the

  5  council, but may meet more often, as the council members or

  6  Division of Elections find necessary.

  7         Section 15.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (4) of

  8  section 101.051, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  9         101.051  Electors seeking assistance in casting

10  ballots; oath to be executed; forms to be furnished.--

11         (4)  If an elector needs assistance in voting pursuant

12  to the provisions of this section, the clerk or one of the

13  inspectors shall require the elector requesting assistance in

14  voting to take the following oath:

15

16                 DECLARATION TO SECURE ASSISTANCE

17

18  State of Florida

19  County of ....

20  Date ....

21  Precinct ....

22         I, ...(Print name)..., swear or affirm that I am a

23  registered elector and request assistance from ...(Print

24  names)... in voting at the ...(name of election)... held on

25  ...(date of election).... for the following reason............

26  ..............................................................

27  ..............................................................

28                                ...(Signature of voter)...

29

30  Sworn and subscribed to before me this .... day of ....,

31  ...(year)....

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1                                ...(Signature of Official Administering Oath)...

  2         Section 16.  Effective July 1, 2002, section 101.51,

  3  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  4         101.51  Electors to occupy booth alone; time allowed.--

  5         (1)  When the elector presents himself or herself to

  6  vote, the election official shall ascertain whether the

  7  elector's name is upon the register of electors, and, if the

  8  elector's name appears and no challenge interposes, or, if

  9  interposed, be not sustained, one of the election officials

10  stationed at the entrance shall announce the name of the

11  elector and permit him or her to enter the booth or

12  compartment to cast his or her vote, allowing only one elector

13  at a time to pass through to vote.  An No elector, while

14  casting his or her ballot, may not shall occupy a booth or

15  compartment longer than 5 minutes or be allowed to occupy a

16  booth or compartment already occupied or to speak with anyone,

17  except as provided by s. 101.051, while in the polling place.

18         (2)  If an elector requires longer than 5 minutes, then

19  upon a sufficient reason he or she may be granted a longer

20  period of time by the election officials in charge.  After

21  casting his or her vote, the elector shall at once leave the

22  polling room by the exit opening and shall not be permitted to

23  reenter on any pretext whatever.  After the elector has voted,

24  or declined or failed to vote within 5 minutes, he or she

25  shall immediately withdraw from the polling place.  If the

26  elector refuses to leave after the lapse of 5 minutes, he or

27  she shall be removed by the election officials.

28         Section 17.  Section 101.56062, Florida Statutes, is

29  created to read:

30         101.56062  Standards for accessible voting systems.--

31         (1)  Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  contrary, after November 30, 2002, each voting system

  2  certified by the Department of State for use in local, state,

  3  and federal elections must include accessible voter interface

  4  devices in the system configuration which will allow the

  5  system to meet the following minimum standards:

  6         (a)  The voting system must provide a tactile-input or

  7  speech-input device, or both.

  8         (b)  The voting system must provide a method by which

  9  voters can confirm any tactile or audio input by having the

10  capability of audio output using synthetic or recorded human

11  speech that is reasonably phonetically accurate.

12         (c)  Any operable controls on the input device which

13  are needed for voters who are visually impaired must be

14  discernable tactilely without actuating the keys.

15         (d)  Audio and visual access approaches must be able to

16  work both separately and simultaneously.

17         (e)  If a nonaudio access approach is provided, the

18  system may not require color perception. The system must use

19  black text or graphics, or both, on white background or white

20  text or graphics, or both, on black background, unless the

21  office of the Secretary of State approves other high-contrast

22  color combinations that do not require color perception.

23         (f)  Any voting system that requires any visual

24  perception must offer the election official who programs the

25  system, prior to its being sent to the polling place, the

26  capability to set the font size, as it appears to the voter,

27  from a minimum of 14 points to a maximum of 24 points.

28         (g)  The voting system must provide audio information,

29  including any audio output using synthetic or recorded human

30  speech or any auditory feedback tones that are important for

31  the use of the audio approach, through at least one mode, by

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  handset or headset, in enhanced auditory fashion (increased

  2  amplification), and must provide incremental volume control

  3  with output amplification up to a level of at least 97 dB SPL.

  4         (h)  For transmitted voice signals of the voter, the

  5  voting system must provide a gain adjustable up to a minimum

  6  of 20 dB with at least one intermediate step of 12 dB of gain.

  7         (i)  For the safety of others, if the voting system has

  8  the possibility of exceeding 120 dB SPL, then a mechanism must

  9  be included to reset the volume automatically to the voting

10  system's default volume level after every use, for example

11  when the handset is replaced, but not before. Also, universal

12  precautions in the use and sharing of headsets should be

13  followed.

14         (j)  If sound cues and audible information such as

15  "beeps" are used, there must be simultaneous corresponding

16  visual cues and information.

17         (k)  Controls and operable mechanisms must be operable

18  with one hand, including operability with a closed fist, and

19  operable without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the

20  wrist.

21         (l)  The force required to operate or activate the

22  controls must be no greater than 5 pounds of force.

23         (m)  Voting booths must have voting controls at a

24  minimum height of 36 inches above the finished floor with a

25  minimum knee clearance of 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and

26  19 inches deep, or the accessible voter interface devices must

27  be designed so as to allow their use on top of a table to meet

28  these requirements. Tabletop installations must include

29  adequate privacy.

30         (n)  Any audio ballot must provide the voter with the

31  following functionalities:

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         1.  After the initial instructions that the system

  2  requires election officials to provide to each voter, the

  3  voter should be able to independently operate the voter

  4  interface through the final step of casting a ballot without

  5  assistance.

  6         2.  The voter must be able to determine the races that

  7  he or she is allowed to vote in and to determine which

  8  candidates are available in each race.

  9         3.  The voter must be able to determine how many

10  candidates may be selected in each race.

11         4.  The voter must be able to have confidence that the

12  physical or vocal inputs given to the system have selected the

13  candidates that he or she intended to select.

14         5.  The voter must be able to review the candidate

15  selections that he or she has made.

16         6.  Prior to the act of casting the ballot, the voter

17  must be able to change any selections previously made and

18  confirm a new selection.

19         7.  The system must communicate to the voter the fact

20  that the voter has failed to vote in a race or has failed to

21  vote the number of allowable candidates in any race and

22  require the voter to confirm his or her intent to undervote

23  before casting the ballot.

24         8.  The system must prevent the voter from overvoting

25  any race.

26         9.  The voter must be able to input a candidate's name

27  in each race that allows a write-in candidate.

28         10.  The voter must be able to review his or her

29  write-in input to the interface, edit that input, and confirm

30  that the edits meet the voter's intent.

31         11.  There must be a clear, identifiable action that

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 493

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  the voter takes to "cast" the ballot. The system must make

  2  clear to the voter how to take this action so that the voter

  3  has minimal risk of taking the action accidentally but, when

  4  the voter intends to cast the ballot, the action can be easily

  5  performed.

  6         12.  Once the ballot is cast, the system must confirm

  7  to the voter that the action has occurred and that the voter's

  8  process of voting is complete.

  9         13.  Once the ballot is cast, the system must preclude

10  the voter from modifying the ballot cast or voting or casting

11  another ballot.

12         (2)  For contracts entered into after November 30,

13  2002, state or federal funds may not be used by any county or

14  municipality to purchase voting systems or voting system

15  components that do not meet the accessibility standards

16  established by this section for use beginning in the 2004

17  election cycle.

18         (3)  A voting system that was certified before the

19  effective date of this section is not decertified. However:

20         (a)  Any voting system used in any local, state, or

21  federal election after September 1, 2004, must have at least

22  one voter interface device installed in each precinct which

23  meets the requirements of this section, except for paragraph

24  (1)(d).

25         (b)  For elections after November 30, 2004, the

26  Department of State in consultation with the Disability

27  Advisory Council and the supervisors of elections, shall adopt

28  rules establishing requirements and timeframes for the

29  installation of additional accessible voter interface devices

30  throughout the state.

31         (4)  It is the intent of the Legislature that this

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  1  state be eligible for any funds that are available from the

  2  Federal Government to assist states in providing or improving

  3  accessibility of voting systems and polling places for persons

  4  having a disability. Accordingly, all state laws, rules,

  5  standards, and codes governing voting systems and polling

  6  place accessibility must be maintained to assure the state's

  7  eligibility to receive federal funds. It is the intent of the

  8  Legislature that all state requirements meet or exceed the

  9  minimum federal requirements for voting systems and polling

10  place accessibility.

11         Section 18.  Effective July 1, 2002, section 101.662,

12  Florida Statutes, is created to read:

13         101.662  Accessibility of absentee ballots.--It is the

14  intent of the Legislature that voting by absentee ballot be by

15  methods that are fully accessible to all voters, including

16  voters having a disability. The Department of State shall work

17  with the Disability Advisory Council and the supervisors of

18  elections to develop and implement procedures and

19  technologies, as possible, which will include procedures for

20  providing absentee ballots, upon request, in alternative

21  formats that will allow all voters to cast a secret,

22  independent, and verifiable absentee ballot without the

23  assistance of another person.

24         Section 19.  Effective July 1, 2004, subsection (2) of

25  section 101.71, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 25 of

26  chapter 2001-40, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

27         101.71  Polling place.--

28         (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1),

29  whenever the supervisor of elections of any county determines

30  that the accommodations for holding any election at a polling

31  place designated for any precinct in the county are

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  1  unavailable, or are inadequate for the expeditious and

  2  efficient housing and handling of voting and voting

  3  paraphernalia, or do not comply with the requirements of s.

  4  101.715, the supervisor shall may provide, not less than 30

  5  days prior to the holding of an election, provide for that the

  6  voting place for such precinct to shall be moved to another

  7  site that is which shall be accessible to the public on

  8  election day in said precinct or, if such is not available, to

  9  another site that is which shall be accessible to the public

10  on election day in a contiguous precinct.  If such action of

11  the supervisor results in the voting place for two or more

12  precincts being located for the purposes of an election in one

13  building, the voting places for the several precincts involved

14  shall be established and maintained separate from each other

15  in said building. When any supervisor moves any polling place

16  pursuant to this subsection, the supervisor shall, not more

17  than 30 days or fewer than 7 days prior to the holding of an

18  election, give notice of the change of the polling place for

19  the precinct involved, with clear description of the voting

20  place to which changed, at least once in a newspaper of

21  general circulation in said county. A notice of the change of

22  the polling place involved shall be mailed, at least 14 days

23  prior to an election, to each registered elector or to each

24  household in which there is a registered elector.

25         Section 20.  Effective July 1, 2004, section 101.715,

26  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

27         (Substantial rewording of section. See

28         s. 101.715, F.S., for present text.)

29         101.715  Accessibility of polling places for people

30  having a disability.--

31         (1)  All polling places must be accessible and usable

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  1  by people with disabilities, as provided in this section.

  2         (2)  Only those polling places complying with the

  3  Florida Americans With Disabilities Accessibility

  4  Implementation Act, ss. 553.501-553.513, for all portions of

  5  the polling place or the structure in which it is located that

  6  voters traverse going to and from the polling place and during

  7  the voting process, regardless of the age or function of the

  8  building, shall be used for federal, state, and local

  9  elections.

10         (3)  The selection of a polling site must assure

11  accessibility with respect to the following accessible

12  elements, spaces, scope, and technical requirements:

13  accessible route, space allowance and reach ranges, protruding

14  objects, ground and floor surfaces, parking and passenger

15  loading zones, curb ramps, ramps, stairs, elevators, platform

16  lifts, doors, entrances, path of egress, controls and

17  operating mechanisms, signage, and all other minimum

18  requirements.

19         (4)  Standards required at each polling place,

20  regardless of the age of the building or function of the

21  building, include:

22         (a)  For polling places that provide parking spaces for

23  voters, one or more signed accessible parking spaces for

24  disabled persons;

25         (b)  Signage identifying an accessible path of travel

26  to the polling place if it differs from the primary route or

27  entrance;

28         (c)  An unobstructed path of travel to the polling

29  place;

30         (d)  Level, firm, stable, and slip-resistant surfaces;

31         (e)  An unobstructed area for voting; and

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  1         (f)  Sufficient lighting along the accessible path of

  2  travel and within the polling place.

  3         (5)  Upon request, all ballots, instructions, and

  4  printed materials at each polling place must also be available

  5  in alternative formats.

  6         (6)  All methods used to cast a vote must allow a

  7  person having a disability to cast a vote, whether assisted or

  8  unassisted, at the voter's sole discretion, in a secret,

  9  independent, and verifiable manner, during the same times and

10  under the same conditions available to other voters.

11         (7)  The Department of State may adopt rules in

12  accordance with s. 120.54 which are necessary to administer

13  this section.

14         Section 21.  (1)  By September 1, 2003, each polling

15  place should be surveyed by the supervisor of elections for

16  the purpose of determining accessibility using a survey

17  developed by rule of the Department of State, after first

18  considering recommendations regarding the survey from the

19  Disability Advisory Council of the Department of State.

20         (2)  The results of this survey shall be presented by

21  the Division of Elections by December 1, 2003, to the

22  Legislature and the Governor. The report must note any polling

23  places that are not accessible and state the specific reasons

24  why those polling places may not be brought into compliance.

25  For those polling places that may not be brought into

26  compliance, the supervisor of elections must certify that fact

27  to the Division of Elections and shall be granted a variance

28  for that polling place for one election cycle.

29         (3)  This section shall take effect July 1, 2002.

30         Section 22.  Effective November 30, 2002, subsection

31  (7) is added to section 102.014, Florida Statutes, to read:

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  1         102.014  Poll worker recruitment and training.--

  2         (7)  The Department of State shall develop a mandatory,

  3  statewide, and uniform program for training poll workers on

  4  issues of etiquette and sensitivity with respect to voters

  5  having a disability. The program must consist of approximately

  6  1 hour of the required number of hours set forth in paragraph

  7  (4)(a). The program must be conducted locally by each

  8  supervisor of elections, who shall periodically certify to the

  9  Department of State whether each poll worker has completed the

10  program. The supervisor of elections shall contract with a

11  recognized disability related organization such as Centers for

12  Independent Living, Family Network on Disabilities, Deaf

13  Service Bureaus, or other such organizations to develop and

14  assist with training the trainers in the disability

15  sensitivity programs. The program must include actual

16  demonstrations of obstacles confronted by disabled persons

17  during the voting process, including obtaining access to the

18  polling place, traveling through the polling area, and using

19  the voting system.

20         Section 23.  Effective July 1, 2002, section 104.20,

21  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

22         104.20  Ballot not to be seen, and other offenses.--Any

23  elector who, except as provided by law, allows his or her

24  ballot to be seen by any person; takes or removes, or attempts

25  to take or remove, any ballot from the polling place before

26  the close of the polls; places any mark on his or her ballot

27  by which it may be identified; remains longer than the

28  specified time allowed by law in the booth or compartment

29  after having been notified that his or her time has expired;

30  endeavors to induce any elector to show how he or she voted;

31  aids or attempts to aid any elector unlawfully; or prints or

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  1  procures to be printed, or has in his or her possession, any

  2  copies of any ballot prepared to be voted is guilty of a

  3  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

  4  775.082 or s. 775.083.

  5         Section 24.  Effective July 1, 2002, paragraph (y) of

  6  subsection (1) of section 125.01, Florida Statutes, is amended

  7  to read:

  8         125.01  Powers and duties.--

  9         (1)  The legislative and governing body of a county

10  shall have the power to carry on county government.  To the

11  extent not inconsistent with general or special law, this

12  power includes, but is not restricted to, the power to:

13         (y)  Place questions or propositions on the ballot at

14  any primary election, general election, or otherwise called

15  special election, when agreed to by a majority vote of the

16  total membership of the legislative and governing body, so as

17  to obtain an expression of elector sentiment with respect to

18  matters of substantial concern within the county.  No special

19  election may be called for the purpose of conducting a straw

20  ballot.  Any election costs, as defined in s. 97.021(10) s.

21  97.021(9), associated with any ballot question or election

22  called specifically at the request of a district or for the

23  creation of a district shall be paid by the district either in

24  whole or in part as the case may warrant.

25         Section 25.  Pursuant to section 287.064, Florida

26  Statutes, the Comptroller and the State Board of

27  Administration, in coordination with the Department of State,

28  may develop a consolidated financing mechanism for the

29  purchase or lease-purchase of voting equipment for individuals

30  having a disability, as provided in this act. Financing may be

31  issued under one or more financing agreements at such

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  1  intervals and in such amounts to fund any approved purchase or

  2  lease-purchase made under this act. The Department of State

  3  may apply for federal funds to be used as reimbursement for

  4  the cost of eligible purchases made under this act and may

  5  apply such reimbursement, or its pro rata share, to satisfy

  6  the obligations in whole or in part. This section shall take

  7  effect July 1, 2002.

  8         Section 26.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

  9  this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

10

11

12  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

13  And the title is amended as follows:

14         On page 6, line 18, through page 7, line 17, of the

15  amendment

16  remove:  all of said lines

17

18  and insert:

19         An act relating to elections; amending s.

20         97.052, F.S.; authorizing private individuals

21         and groups to reproduce voter registration

22         applications under certain conditions; amending

23         s. 97.057, F.S.; requiring the Department of

24         Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to forward

25         copies of unsigned voter registration

26         applications within a specified period to the

27         appropriate supervisors of elections; amending

28         s. 97.058, F.S.; requiring voter registration

29         agencies to forward copies of incompleted voter

30         registration applications within a specified

31         period to the appropriate supervisors of

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  1         elections; amending s. 97.071, F.S.; requiring

  2         voter registration identification cards to have

  3         the name, rather than the signature, of the

  4         supervisor of elections; amending s. 97.1031,

  5         F.S.; revising notice requirements for change

  6         of residence within the same county; amending

  7         s. 98.0977, F.S.; revising duties of the

  8         supervisor of elections relating to maintenance

  9         of the voter registration rolls; providing for

10         a hearing, as an alternative to notice, to

11         determine the eligibility of voters convicted

12         of a felony or adjudicated mentally

13         incapacitated with respect to voting; requiring

14         removal of a person's name from the

15         registration books upon a determination of

16         sufficient evidence; providing for appeal and

17         for payment of the costs thereof; amending s.

18         97.021, F.S.; defining the terms "alternative

19         formats," "tactile input device," and "voter

20         interface device" for purposes of the Florida

21         Election Code; creating s. 97.026, F.S.;

22         requiring that certain forms used under the

23         code be made available in alternative formats;

24         requiring the Secretary of State to make such

25         forms available via the Internet if possible;

26         amending s. 98.065, F.S.; requiring that the

27         maintenance of voter registration records be

28         nondiscriminatory with respect to persons

29         having a disability; creating s. 98.122, F.S.;

30         requiring candidates, political parties, and

31         political committees to use closed captioning

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  1         and descriptive narrative in all television

  2         broadcasts; providing that failing to file a

  3         statement of reasons for failing to do so is a

  4         violation of the code; authorizing the

  5         Department of State to adopt rules; amending

  6         ss. 100.361, 100.371, F.S.; suggesting that a

  7         recall petition be available in alternative

  8         formats; requiring a constitutional amendment

  9         proposed by initiative and other papers and

10         forms be available in alternative formats;

11         amending s. 101.017, F.S.; requiring that the

12         Bureau of Voting Systems Certification

13         cooperate and consult with the Disability

14         Advisory Council; creating s. 101.018, F.S.;

15         creating the Disability Advisory Council within

16         the Department of State; providing for

17         membership of the council; specifying duties of

18         the council; providing for terms of office;

19         providing that council members are entitled to

20         reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses;

21         providing for meetings of the council; amending

22         s. 101.051, F.S.; eliminating a requirement

23         that an elector give a reason under oath for

24         requesting assistance in voting; amending s.

25         101.51, F.S.; abolishing limitations on the

26         length of time a voter is allowed to occupy a

27         voting booth or compartment; creating s.

28         101.56062, F.S.; providing standards for

29         accessible voting systems; prohibiting the use

30         of state or federal funds for a voting system

31         or system components that do not meet the

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  1         accessibility standards; requiring any voting

  2         system used after a specified date to have at

  3         least one voter interface device that complies

  4         with accessibility requirements in each

  5         precinct; providing legislative intent with

  6         respect to meeting or exceeding minimum federal

  7         requirements for voting systems and

  8         accessibility of polling places; creating s.

  9         101.662, F.S.; authorizing the Department of

10         State to work with certain parties to develop

11         procedures to allow absentee ballots to be cast

12         in alternative formats; amending s. 101.71,

13         F.S.; authorizing supervisors of elections to

14         move a polling place that does not comply with

15         requirements for accessibility; amending s.

16         101.715, F.S.; requiring that all polling

17         places be accessible by persons having a

18         disability; providing for standards that are

19         required at each polling place; requiring the

20         supervisors of elections to survey polling

21         places by a specified date; providing for a

22         report of survey results to the Governor and

23         Legislature; allowing for variance for two

24         election cycles; authorizing the Department of

25         State to adopt rules; amending s. 102.014,

26         F.S.; requiring the Department of State to

27         develop a training program for poll workers

28         concerning voters having a disability;

29         providing requirements for the program;

30         requiring supervisors of elections to certify

31         completion of the program by poll workers;

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  1         amending s. 104.20, F.S., relating to penalties

  2         imposed against an elector for remaining in a

  3         voting booth longer than the specified time;

  4         conforming provisions to changes made by the

  5         act; amending s. 125.01, F.S., relating to

  6         powers of the governing body of a county;

  7         conforming a cross-reference to changes made by

  8         the act; authorizing the Comptroller and the

  9         State Board of Administration to develop a

10         consolidated financing mechanism for the

11         purchase or lease-purchase of voting equipment

12         for individuals having a disability; providing

13         effective dates.

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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