Bill Summary for H 397 (2019-2020)

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Summary date: 

Mar 19 2019

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
House Bill 397 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 19, 2019
AN ACT TO REVISE THE APPROVAL PROCESS AND CERTAIN IMPLEMENTATION DATES FOR STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO BE USED FOR VOTING IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES.
Intro. by Hawkins, Russell.

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Bill summary

Amends GS 163A-1145.2 (Approval of student identification cards for voting registration). Modifies and adds to the criteria that must be met for the State Board of Elections (State Board) to approve the use of student identification cards (student IDs) issued by a UNC constituent institution, a community college, or eligible private postsecondary institution for voting identification. Clarifies that the signed letter the chancellor, president, or registrar must submit to the Executive Director of the State Board must attest that the specified criteria has been met and are true statements that will not knowingly be violated with regard to student IDs issued after September 15, 2019 (was, submit a signed letter that the specified criteria are true). Requires the letter to attest that the IDs issued by the university or college contain photographs obtained  (was, taken) by the university or college or its agents/contractors, and that the photograph is a frontal image that includes the student's face and represents a clear, accurate likeness of the student to whom the card is issued (previously not specified). Requires restricting access to the equipment for producing the identification cards through security measures (was, be kept in a secure location). Specifies that the ID cards must be issued after enrollment or other process (previously, only after enrollment) that includes one or more methods of confirming the student's identity (previously that includes methods of confirming the student's identity). Qualifies the university or college duty to report any misuse of the ID card equipment to law enforcement as specified to only when they have knowledge of the misuse. Requires ID cards issued on or after January 1, 2021, to contain an expiration date (was, effective on that date). Requires the university or college to provide copies of student IDs (was, standard IDs) to the State Board to assist with training. Requires the college or university to provide an electronic link or a copy to students issued the student ID of a document developed by the State Board detailing the specified voting requirements (was, a copy to student when issued the student ID card). Further, requires the university or college to inform the State Board whether it will comply with other reasonable security measures determined by the State Board to be necessary, upon notification (previously, required compliance with additional measures determined necessary).

Amends GS 163A-1145.3 (Approval of employee identification cards for voting identification). Makes similar changes to those made to GS 163A-1145.2, except as follows, making the head elected official or lead human resources employee of the state or local government entity or charter school submit a signed letter to the Executive Director of the State Board attesting that the specified criteria have been met and are true statements that will not be knowingly violated with regard to employee identification cards issued after September 15, 2019. Does not require the employee IDs to meet the additional photograph requirements of student IDs. Requires employers to issue ID cards after an employment application or other process (was, only after an employment application) that includes confirming the identity of the employee using data (previously, did not require use of data) that includes the Social Security number, citizenship status, and birth date of the employee. Requires employers to restrict access to the equipment producing the IDs through security measures (previously, kept in a secure location).

Amends Section 1.2(f) of SL 2018-144, requiring the State Board to approve the tribal enrollment cards, student ID cards, and employee ID cards for use as voting identification under GS 163A-1145.1 by August 1, 2019 (was, March 15, 2019), for use in primaries and elections held in 2019 and 2020. Further, requires the State Board to adopt temporary rules on reasonable security measures for use of student or employee ID cards for voting in GS 163A-1145.2 and GS 163A-1145.3 no later than June 1, 2019 (was, February 1, 2019). Requires the State Board to produce the initial list of participating institutions and employing entities pursuant to the act by September 15, 2019 (was, April 1, 2019).

Amends Section 1.2(i) of SL 2018-144, extending the deadline by which the State Board must report to the specified NCGA Committee regarding absentee voting to May 1, 2019 (was, March 1, 2019).