Amendment #1284 to H3900

Election Worker Task Force

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Gifford of Wareham, Barrows of Mansfield and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by inserting the following:

SECTION 1. There shall be established a task force to collect information and report on occurrences of threats, coercion, intimidation, or harassment of an election official. The task force shall conduct a comprehensive review of existing laws and regulations related to election officials’ safety and security in conducting their official responsibilities and shall develop recommendations for preventing threats, coercion, intimidation, or harassment of an election official. The task force may collect testimony and conduct public hearings. The task force shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on election laws, who shall serve as the co-chairs; one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; one member to be appointed by the president of the senate; one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the chair of the Democratic State Committee or designee; the chair of the Republican State Committee or designee; the president of the Massachusetts Town Clerks’ Association or their designee; the president of the Massachusetts City Clerks’ Association or their designee; one member from the district attorney's office designated by the attorney general; one law enforcement specialist with expertise in election laws appointed by the governor; and four members to be appointed by the governor, two of whom shall be individuals from a public interest group involved in election matters, one of whom shall be an individual with experience administering city elections chosen from a list of three names submitted to the governor by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and one of whom shall be an individual with experience administering town elections chosen from a list of three names submitted to the governor by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

SECTION 2. The first meeting of the task force shall take place within 60 days of the effective date of this act. The task force shall submit its report, along with any recommended legislation, to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate and the joint committee on election laws within 12 months of the effective date of this act.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1284 to H3900

Election Worker Task Force