H 5136 General Bill, By Wilkes
 A Bill to amend Chapter 13, Title 7, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by
 adding Article 16 so as to require State Election Commission to determine the
 cost of producing ballots for a statewide automated electronic voting system
 and require the Commission to report the resulting economies to the governing
 bodies of all counties, require the Commission to study the reduction in the
 need for polling workers made possible by the implementation of the automated
 system and use the resulting savings to fund expansion of automation and
 require the Commission to establish a list of counties wishing to participate
 in the automated system and establish a method for determining priorities in
 assisting with funding of this system for a county.

   04/14/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-93
   04/14/94  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-93

A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 13, TITLE 7, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 16 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE COST OF PRODUCING BALLOTS FOR A STATEWIDE AUTOMATED ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM AND REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO REPORT THE RESULTING ECONOMIES TO THE GOVERNING BODIES OF ALL COUNTIES, REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE REDUCTION IN THE NEED FOR POLLING WORKERS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND USE THE RESULTING SAVINGS TO FUND EXPANSION OF AUTOMATION AND REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A LIST OF COUNTIES WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND ESTABLISH A METHOD FOR DETERMINING PRIORITIES IN ASSISTING WITH FUNDING OF THIS SYSTEM FOR A COUNTY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 13, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 16

Section 7-13-2010. (A) Using previously purchased electronic ballot printing equipment and software necessary for the operation of the State's automated system as outlined in the five-year plan filed with the State Budget and Control Board and Joint Bond Review Committee in July, 1987, the State Election Commission shall determine the cost of producing automated ballots for the system.

(B) The average cost for each voter, as a result of automation in the five-year plan, must be compared with the average cost for each voter utilizing other systems for elections conducted by counties using other systems. The resulting economies must be reported by the State Election Commission to the governing bodies of all counties. Funds saved by automation must be ascertained and deducted from the total of leftover ballot printing costs as appropriated in the State Election Commission budget for elections and used by the State to fund its portion of expansion of automation by the same ratio of reimbursement to participating counties as contained in the original plan.

Section 7-13-2020. The State Election Commission shall make a study of the reduction in the need for poll workers made possible by automation. The resulting number of poll workers needed must be used to replace the existing number of poll workers prescribed by law in those counties that use part of the automated system. Any savings in poll worker salaries created by a reduction of poll worker costs due to automation must be ascertained and deducted from the amount of unused poll worker salaries appropriated in the State Election Commission's budget and these funds used by the State to fund expansion of automation by the same ratio of reimbursement to participating counties as contained in the five-year original plan.

Section 7-13-2030. The State Election Commission shall establish a list of counties wishing to participate in the electronic voting system program. Priority for state assisted funding must be obtained by counties wishing to participate by submitting a resolution by their governing body to the State Election Commission reflecting their desire to participate. Priority of participation must be based on the date of receipt of this resolution. If there are no state funds available for reimbursement at the time of the county's purchase of the electronic automated system utilized by the five-year plan filed by the State Election Commission to the State Budget and Control Board, reimbursement must be made retroactively by the State to that county on a priority basis when funds become available."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.