BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4044

By: Smith, Todd

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Because of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, the increased use of compliant electronic voting systems, and the overall increase in the complexity of conducting elections, election judges and clerks have experienced a steady increase in challenging duties, functions, and responsibilities. If errors are made in the electoral process, it can cause serious repercussions.  The compensation for volunteers performing this public service is not commensurate with their duties and responsibilities, especially with respect to primary elections. Election workers serving in primary elections are generally paid much less than election workers serving in the November general election.  Therefore, it has become difficult to successfully recruit and retain election judges and clerks for the primary elections. Recognizing the need to increase compensation for these election workers so that the primary elections can run more smoothly and successfully, the secretary of state submitted a formal legislative appropriations request for $2 million to fund a statewide hourly wage of $10 for election judges and clerks in the primary elections.

H.B. 4044 addresses the need to increase the wages of election judges and clerks for services rendered at a precinct polling place for a primary or runoff primary election by entitling them to a minimum hourly rate of $10.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4044 amends the Election Code to change the minimum hourly rate to which an election judge or clerk is entitled as compensation for services rendered at a precinct polling place for a primary or runoff primary election from the greater of the maximum rate fixed by the appropriate authority, which must be at least the federal minimum hourly wage, or $7 if the election officer attended a training program to $10.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.