71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2018
 
                           B-Engrossed
 
                         Senate Bill 457
                  Ordered by the House June 30
 Including Senate Amendments dated April 6 and House Amendments
                          dated June 30
 
Sponsored by Senators CASTILLO, METSGER; Representative MONNES
  ANDERSON
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Directs Secretary of State, in consultation with county clerks
and other county officials, to study feasibility of supplying
ballots and other voting materials in Spanish and additional
languages other than English. Requires secretary to report
findings to Seventy-second Legislative Assembly.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to elections; appropriating money; and declaring an
  emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Legislative Assembly finds that:
  (a) All citizens of voting age in this state should be able to
exercise their voting rights in a manner consistent with
achieving the highest level of participation, understanding and
accuracy as possible; and
  (b) Results of the United States Census Bureau 2000 census
indicate a growing language diversity among residents of this
state.
  (2) The Secretary of State, in consultation with county clerks
and other county officials in charge of elections, shall study
the need for and feasibility of supplying ballots or other voting
materials in Spanish and additional languages other than English.
The secretary shall consider the bilingual election requirements
of the federal Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973aa-1a. The study
shall consider statutory and regulatory modifications that may be
necessary to supply ballots or other voting materials in Spanish
and additional languages other than English.
  (3) The secretary shall report the findings of the study to the
Seventy-second Legislative Assembly. If the study recommends
supplying ballots or other voting materials in Spanish and
additional languages other than English, the report shall contain
specific recommendations for statutory modifications the
secretary considers necessary.
 
 
  (4) As used in this section, 'voting materials' includes, but
is not limited to, voter registration forms, voters' pamphlets
and written instructions for voters. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Secretary of State,
for the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, out of the General Fund,
the amount of $54,500, which may be expended for the purposes
described in section 1 of this 2001 Act. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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