Menu
2015 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1400 (Member Request)

View Budget Item
View Budget Item amendments

Chief Patron: Massie
Co-Patron(s): O'Bannon
Reimbursement for Local Purchase of Voting Equipment (language only)

Item 83 #1h

Item 83 #1h

Administration
Elections, Department of

Language
Page 71, strike lines 26 through 40.
Page 71, after line 25, insert:
"I. 1. The Department of Elections shall establish and administer a program beginning in the second year to reimburse the purchase by localities of voting equipment from any vendor whose voting equipment has been approved in accordance with the Code of Virginia § 24.2-626 and § 24.2-629. Reimbursement shall be on an annual basis, and the Department of Elections shall coordinate the timing of the annual reimbursements with the staff of the Virginia Public Building Authority so that the amount of the reimbursement request can be funded with proceeds of bonds authorized in Item C-46.30 of this act.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, localities shall be required to replace all direct-recording electronic voting machines and any other non-qualifying voting equipment with equipment for use in the November 2016 election.
J. It is intended that one-time funding be provided from the general fund for the Department of Elections to reimburse, over a three year period, localities for the cost of voting equipment that has been approved in accordance with the Code of Virginia § 24.2-626 and § 24.2-629 and that was replaced prior to January 1, 2015. Out of this appropriation, $1,610,333 the second year from the general fund is provided for the first one-third of the amount required for this reimbursement.
K. Neither the Department of Elections nor the State Board of Elections shall administer, direct, oversee, contract, purchase, or perform a procurement for voting equipment on behalf of localities. The annual reimbursement of localities shall be as funds are available and on a first request basis after incurring the purchase by the locality, without limitation. For eligibility reimbursement, localities may purchase certified voting equipment from any vendor that has been approved in accordance with the Code of Virginia § 24.2-626 and § 24.2-629."


Explanation
(This amendment makes changes to the Governor's introduced budget related to the replacement of legacy voting equipment. This amendment ensures that localities - not the Department of Elections - purchase voting equipment. Localities will be able to purchase equipment and voting systems from any vendor whose equipment has been certified by the State Board of Elections.)