CLERK TRAINING; ELECTIONS S.B. 306:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 306 (as introduced 3-24-21)
Sponsor: Senator Roger Victory
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Election Law to do the following:
-- Require the Secretary of State (SOS), within 45 days after each general November election, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature concerning county, city, and township clerks who were not current with training or instruction required under the Law.
-- Require the SOS to post the submitted report on the Department of State's website.
Under the bill, within 45 days after each general November Election, the SOS would have to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature that included the names of each county, city, and township clerk who was not current with any of the following:
-- Initial course of instruction within six months before the date of the election, as required under Section 168.31(1)(l).
-- Training related to conducting elections under the Law, instruction on the uniformed voting system, and team training, as required under Section 33(1) and (2).
-- Continuing election education training as required under Section 33(4).
The report also would have to be posted on the Department of State's website.
(Section 31(1)(l) requires the Secretary of State to establish and require attendance by all new appointed or elected election officials at an initial course of instruction within six months before the date of the election. Section 33(1) and (2) requires the Director of Elections to conduct training schools throughout Michigan before the general November election, and before other elections as the Director considers advisable, for county clerks and their representatives with respect to the conducting of elections in accordance with the election laws. This training must include instruction on the uniform voting system. If a county clerk fails to conduct in his or her county a training school for election boards within the county, the Director of Elections must conduct the training school, with the cost of the training school to be charged as an obligation of the county. The Director of Elections also must train all county, city, and township clerks who are involved in the training of precinct inspectors. The training must include team training and monitoring of their performance as trainers.)
(Section 33(4) requires the Director of Election to conduct continuing election education training courses for county, city, township, and village clerks to attend. Each county, city, township, and village clerk must attend and complete continuing election education training at least once every two years to maintain accreditation as a clerk. The Department of State
is responsible for providing continuing election education training to the clerks at no charge to the clerks, counties, cities, townships, or villages.)
Proposed MCL 168.33a Legislative Analyst: Dana Adams
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local units of government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.