SIGNATURE VERIFICATION TRAINING S.B. 308:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 308 (as introduced 3-24-21)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to require the Secretary of State (SOS) to establish and require signature verification training for all county, city, and township clerks and for all precinct inspectors that complied with any rules promulgated by the SOS for an objective signature verification process.
Under the Administrative Procedures Act, the SOS would have to promulgate rules that established an objective signature verification process that would have to be used in training all county, city and township clerks and all precinct inspectors. The objective signature verification process could not include a presumption regarding the validity of any signature that was to be verified.
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, township clerks, and all precinct inspectors 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.
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.