HB583: requiring training for election officials.

HB 583-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2003 SESSION

03-1009

03/09

HOUSE BILL 583-FN

AN ACT requiring training for election officials.

SPONSORS: Rep. Buckley, Hills 56

COMMITTEE: Election Law

ANALYSIS

This bill requires training for election officials on election laws and procedures.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-1009

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT requiring training for election officials.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subdivision; Training for Election Officials. Amend RSA 652 by inserting after section 22 the following new subdivision:

Training for Election Officials

652:23 Training for Election Officials. All election officials, including assistant election officials, shall participate in a training session on election laws and procedures conducted by the secretary of state. Participation shall be required during every year in which the person serves as an election official. Participation shall be required during the calendar year in which the election occurs and prior to the date of the election. Any election official who has not fulfilled the requirements of this section shall be disqualified from serving as an election official.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

03-1009

1/16/03

HB 583-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT requiring training for election officials.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of State estimates this bill will increase state general fund expenditures by $135,000 in FY 2003, $157,720 in FY 2004, $131,551 in FY 2005, $135,498 in FY 2006, and $139,564 in FY 2007. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue or county and local expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department states this bill would require the training of more than 5,000 local election officials annually. Additionally, the Department would have to maintain a register of which election officials completed training on an annual basis making them eligible to work as an election official. Several levels of training would also be necessary to train new versus seasoned election officials, as well as training for the various job functions in the polling place. At a minimum, the Department would require a Training Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and Clerical Assistant, and necessary office supplies. Since FY 2004 is a Presidential Primary year, the Department would require additional resources to provide training in the calendar year of the election. Assuming benefits at 37%, and inflation of 3% per year, the Department estimates the costs as follows:

FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007

Staff Costs $117,000 $120,510 $124,125 $127,849 $131,685

Supplies 11,000 0 0 0 0

Mileage 7,000 7,210 7,426 7,649 7,879

Primary 0 30,000 0 0 0

Total $135,000 $157,720 $131,551 $135,498 $139,564