BILL NUMBER: S6132

SPONSOR: BOYLE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act requiring a joint report by the state board of elections and
state education department concerning the safety of students and staff
at schools used as polling places for elections

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would direct the State Board of Elections and the State Educa-
tion Department to jointly examine, evaluate, and make recommendations
concerning the safety of students and staff at schools used as polling
places for elections.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Authorizes the State Board of Elections and the State Educa-
tion Department to jointly examine, evaluate and make recommendations
concerning the safety of students and staff at schools used as polling
              

places for elections.

Section 2. Authorizes the State Board of Elections and/or the State
Education Department to request and receive from any subdivision,
department, board, bureau, commission, office, agency or other instru-
mentality of the state or of any political subdivision thereof such
assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable to effectuate the
purposes set forth in this act.

Section 3. Requires the State Board of Elections and the State Education
Department to submit, within six months of the effective date of this
act, a joint report of their findings, conclusions and recommendations
to the governor and the legislature, and shall submit with such report
such regulatory and legislative proposals as they deem necessary to
implement their recommendations.

Section 4. Establishes effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Many schools serve as Election Day polling places. However, there exists
a reasonable expectation for maintaining the safety and security of
students and school staff, as well as the community members using the
schools on election day. Therefore, it is necessary and proper for the
Board of Elections and Department of Education to jointly consider the
safety implications that arise from schools serving as polling places.
If it is found that schools serving as polling places pose a serious
risk to security, this study will provide for the Board of Elections and
the Department of Education to make recommendations of feasible alterna-
tives for polling places.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: S.828 - Referred to Elections / A.5688 - Referred to Election Law
2019: S.828 - Referred to Elections / A.5688 - Referred to Election Law
2018: S.9161 - Referred to Rules / A.6339 - Referred to Election Law
2016: S.611 - Referred to Elections / A.2488 - Referred to Election Law
2015: S.611 - Referred to Elections / A.2488 - Referred to Election Law
2014: S.4348-A - Referred to Elections / A.6774 - Referred to Election
Law
2013: S.4348-A - Referred to Elections / A.6774 - Referred to Election
Law

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.