SIGNATURE VERIFICATION TRAINING                                                     S.B. 308 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 308 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Kevin Daley

Committee:  Elections

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

-- Require the Secretary of State (SOS) to establish and require signature verification training for all county, city, and township clerks that complied with any rules promulgated by the SOS for an objective signature verification process.

-- Require the SOS to consult with appropriate handwriting experts when promulgating rules to establish a signature verification process.

-- Require the objective handwriting verification process to be focused solely on the objective criteria clerks would need to determine the genuineness of a signature.

-- Prohibit the objective signature verification process from including a presumption regarding the validity of signatures or certain instructions or guidance with respect to signature verification.

MCL 168.31                                                                Legislative Analyst:  Dana Adams

FISCAL IMPACT

There could be additional costs for the Department of State to promulgate rules to establish an objective signature verification process; however, those costs likely would be minimal and would be absorbed within the Department's annual appropriations. This bill also would require the Department to establish a signature verification training and require all county, city, and township clerks to be trained in accordance with the promulgated rules. The Department likely would incur costs beyond current appropriations to develop the required signature verification trainings and training materials, along with the costs associated with providing the required trainings. The costs are indeterminate and would depend on the number of trainings ultimately required, the material costs for those trainings, as well as travel costs for staff associated with providing those trainings.

Date Completed:  10-20-21                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

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.