NY State Senate Bill 2019-S2800

Senate Bill S2800

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to mandatory training curriculum; and to model poll worker training programs

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2020	referred to elections
Jun 20, 2019	committed to rules
Feb 11, 2019	advanced to third reading
Feb 05, 2019	2nd report cal.
Feb 04, 2019	1st report cal.102
Jan 29, 2019	referred to elections

Votes

- Feb 4, 2019 - Elections Committee Vote
  S2800
  
  5
  
  Aye
  
  2
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Elections Committee Vote: Feb 4, 2019
      
      aye (5)
      
      Kavanagh
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Myrie
      
      Salazar
      
      nay (2)
      
      Akshar
      
      Young

co-Sponsors

2019-S2800 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5142
Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Add §3-213, amd §3-412, El L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S2800, A5142

2019-S2800 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to mandatory training curriculum for election commissioners and key staff of boards of elections and to model poll worker training programs; requires the state board of elections to develop and provide to each county materials for a model poll worker training program which the counties may use to train individuals to serve as poll workers in state and county elections.

2019-S2800 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S2800

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to mandatory training
curriculum for election commissioners, key staff of boards of elections
and poll workers

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this act is to ensure proper training for board of
elections personnel.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the election law by adding a new section 3-213 to
require election commissioners and board of elections employees to
complete mandatory training within six months of appointment, and
continuing education annually, with the curriculum to be established by
the state board of elections, with training available via a web-based

format among other methods.

Section 2 amends subdivision 1-a and adds new subdivisions 1-b, 1-c and
1-d to section 3-412 of the election law to require the state board of
elections to establish a training institute to develop curriculum for
.certified poll worker training and train-the-trainer programs. The
curriculum shall include curriculum relating to a diverse electorate,
professional delivery of services, providing assistance to voters with
disabilities and limited English proficiency, use of all voting systems
and shall utilize industry proven training techniques. County boards
shall enroll at least two trainers in the program to become and maintain
certified poll worker instructor status such that there are adequate
trainers to meet the needs of the county.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Recent events during the presidential primary demonstrate the need for
the training of personnel and poll workers to improve election day oper-
ations and to foster a positive experience for voters.  In the interest
of protecting our citizens' right to vote, it is necessary that the
county board of elections commissioners and other board of elections
employees complete a course of instruction on the operation of a board
of elections within six months of appointment, as well as an annual
refresher course completed before June first of each year for no more
than three hours.

In addition, in order to ensure that poll workers receive adequate
training such that they provide all voters with a positive experience at
the polls, the state board shall establish a training institute with
core curriculum to enable persons to become certified poll worker train-
ers.

Under this program, county boards would be able to certify their own
personnel to train their local poll workers. This program will provide a
benefit to voters by ensuring that there is a standard curriculum to
train poll workers on issues including elections day operations, voting
systems, diversity, and voter's with disabilities, in order to ease
election day delays and foster a positive voting experience. This
program will also benefit county boards of election by providing curric-
ulum and certification for training of their poll workers.

These training programs will facilitate smooth operations within boards
of elections and promote an environment where voter participation is
encouraged.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S4370 COMRIE Same as A5844 Walker

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Cost to implement the training program and develop curriculum at the
state board of elections.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall become a law, provided, however, that effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective day are authorized
and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

2019-S2800 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2800
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election law, in relation to mandatory training
   curriculum  for  election  commissioners,  key  staff  of  boards   of
   elections and poll workers

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new  section  3-213
 to read as follows:
   §  3-213.  BOARDS  OF  ELECTIONS;  MANDATORY  TRAINING  CURRICULUM. 1.
 ELECTION COMMISSIONERS AND SUCH OTHER BOARD OF  ELECTIONS  EMPLOYEES  AS
 DETERMINED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER
 THEIR  FIRST  APPOINTMENT COMPLETE A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION ON THE OPERA-
 TION OF A BOARD OF ELECTIONS WHICH SHALL BE PROVIDED BY THE STATE  BOARD
 OF  ELECTIONS. THE CURRICULUM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS IN CONSULTATION WITH  ELECTION  COMMISSIONERS  AND  SHALL  NOT
 EXCEED THIRTY HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.
   2.  ANNUALLY,  ELECTION  COMMISSIONERS  AND  OTHER  BOARD OF ELECTIONS
 EMPLOYEES AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SHALL  COMPLETE
 BEFORE JUNE FIRST A CONTINUING COURSE OF INSTRUCTION ON THE OPERATION OF
 A  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  WHICH  SHALL  BE PROVIDED BY THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS. THE CURRICULUM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSIONERS AND SHALL NOT
 EXCEED THREE HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.
   3. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE THE TRAINING REQUIRED BY
 SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION THROUGH, IN ADDITION TO OTHER METHODS IT
 MAY CHOOSE, A WEB-BASED RECORDED FORMAT.
   4. UPON THE FAILURE OF A COMMISSIONER OR OTHER  EMPLOYEE  TO  COMPLETE
 THE  INSTRUCTION  WITHIN  THE  TIME  REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION, THE STATE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL SEND A LETTER TO THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OR CITY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05910-01-9

 S. 2800                             2
 
 COUNCIL AND THE RESPECTIVE COUNTY PARTY CHAIR OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE
 COMMISSIONER STATING THE DELINQUENCY.
   §  2.   Subdivision 1-a of section 3-412 of the election law, as added
 by chapter 181 of the laws of 2005, is amended and  three  new  subdivi-
 sions 1-b, 1-c and 1-d are added to read as follows:
   1-a.  The  state  board  of elections shall establish a mandatory core
 curriculum for poll worker training which includes the  requirements  in
 subdivision two of this section, [as amended by a chapter of the laws of
 2005,]  and the rights of voters at the polls and obligation of election
 workers to protect those rights while maintaining the integrity  of  the
 franchise,  including assisting voters with disabilities or with limited
 or no proficiency in the  English  language,  handling,  processing  and
 entitlement to ballots, including affidavit and emergency ballots, prop-
 er  identification  requirements, procedures to be followed with respect
 to voters whose names are not on the list of registered voters or  whose
 identities  have  not been verified, electioneering and other violations
 of the elective franchise as defined in this  chapter,  solicitation  by
 individuals  and  groups  at  the  polling  place  and  procedures to be
 followed after the polls close. Each board of  elections  shall  augment
 the core curriculum with local procedures not inconsistent with the core
 curriculum  adopted  by  the state board of elections and which includes
 procedures relating to proper operation of, and remedying problems with,
 the voting machine or system in use in that jurisdiction.
   1-B. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ESTABLISH AND HOST  AN  EDUCA-
 TION  AND TRAINING INSTITUTE WHICH SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOP-
 MENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF  A  STATEWIDE  PROGRAM  WHEREIN  PERSONS  CAN
 BECOME  CERTIFIED POLL WORKER TRAINERS. THIS INSTITUTE SHALL ALSO CREATE
 A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM, IN ORDER FOR COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS  TO
 IMPLEMENT  AN EFFECTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM AT THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCAL LEVEL
 OF PROGRAM DELIVERY.  THE STATE BOARD'S TRAINERS SHALL  INCLUDE  IN  THE
 TRAINER CURRICULUM TO BE DEVELOPED, ATTENTION TO, INTER ALIA, POLL WORK-
 ER  ABILITY  TO  SERVE A DIVERSE ELECTORATE WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE AND
 RESPECT; PROFESSIONALIZING THE DELIVERY OF ALL  ELECTION  DAY  SERVICES;
 PROVIDING  ASSISTANCE TO VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WITH LIMITED
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, ENSURING THE DIGNITY AND PRIVACY  OF  SUCH
 INDIVIDUALS;  AND  TO  INDIVIDUALS  WHO  ARE MEMBERS OF RACIAL OR ETHNIC
 MINORITIES, COMPLETE FAMILIARITY AND COMFORT WITH ALL VOTING SYSTEMS  IN
 USE   IN   POLL   SITES,  INCLUDING  BALLOT  MARKING  DEVICES  OR  OTHER
 SYSTEMS/SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES; AND POLL  WORKER
 ABILITY  TO RECOGNIZE AND RESOLVE A VARIETY OF ISSUES WHICH MAY ARISE IN
 POLL SITES. THE STATE BOARD'S TRAINERS AND  ALL  CERTIFIED  POLL  WORKER
 INSTRUCTORS  SHALL  UTILIZE INDUSTRY-PROVEN TRAINING TECHNIQUES AIMED AT
 ADULT LEARNERS  INCLUDING  ROLE-BASED  TRAINING  AND  HANDS-ON  TRAINING
 OPPORTUNITIES  USING  OFFICIAL  ELECTION  DAY FORMS AND POLL SITE VOTING
 SYSTEMS AND MAY FURTHER INCLUDE  A  WEB-BASED  COMPONENT  AND  COMPANION
 VIDEO.
   1-C.  COUNTY BOARDS SHALL ENROLL TRAINERS IN THE PROGRAM IN SUCH QUAN-
 TITIES TO ENSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE CONTINGENT OF FULLY TRAINED AND CERTI-
 FIED POLL WORKER TRAINERS ARE AVAILABLE TO MEET THE  TRAINING  NEEDS  OF
 SUCH  COUNTY.  EACH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ENROLL NOT LESS THAN
 TWO PERSONS DESIGNATED BY THE COUNTY BOARD ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, IN THE
 STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TRAINING  INSTITUTE.  CERTIFIED  TRAINERS  MUST
 MAINTAIN  THEIR  CERTIFICATION  BY  ATTENDING  ONCE  EVERY  TWO YEARS, A
 CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM, TO ENSURE THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE  POLL
 WORKER  TRAINING  AGENDA  SET BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. ENROLLEES
 WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE STATE BOARD'S TRAINING  PROGRAM  AND

 S. 2800                             3
 
 BEEN  AWARDED A "CERTIFIED POLL WORKER INSTRUCTOR" CERTIFICATE MAY SERVE
 AT THE COUNTY BOARD AS A TRAINER OF POLL WORKERS AS WELL AS A TRAINER OF
 OTHER BI-PARTISAN DESIGNEES OF THE COUNTY BOARD, HOWEVER THE  CONFERRING
 OF  THE TITLE "CERTIFIED POLL WORKER INSTRUCTOR" MAY BE MADE ONLY BY THE
 STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   1-D. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ADOPT  SUCH  RULES  AND  REGU-
 LATIONS  WHICH  MAY  BE  NECESSARY  TO CREATE THE TRAINING INSTITUTE AND
 ASSOCIATED CURRICULA PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISIONS ONE-A, ONE-B AND ONE-C
 OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING A PROCESS WHEREBY ATTENDEES WHO  SUCCESSFULLY
 COMPLETE  A  STATE  BOARD-SPONSORED  TRAINING PROGRAM SHALL BE AWARDED A
 CERTIFICATE CONFERRING UPON HIM OR HER, THE  TITLE  OF  "CERTIFIED  POLL
 WORKER INSTRUCTOR".
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.  Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to
 be made and completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S2800

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Sponsored By

Leroy Comrie