HB1513
To Create The Election Integrity Unit Within The Attorney General's Office; To Amend The Duties Of The State Board Of Election Commissioners; And To Amend The Law Concerning Violations Of Election Law.
Last Action (April 11, 2023): Notification that HB1513 is now Act 544
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1513 establishes an 'Election Integrity Unit' within the Arkansas Attorney General's office to assist in the investigation of election-related crimes and security issues. The bill mandates that all election law complaints be funneled through this unit and tracked in a newly created Arkansas Election Integrity Database. It clarifies the role of the State Board of Election Commissioners in investigating these complaints and provides procedures for referring potential criminal violations to local prosecuting attorneys. The Attorney General is authorized to appoint a director and staff for the unit, which also holds the authority to issue subpoenas and initiate civil legal proceedings regarding election law violations. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual report on closed investigations to be submitted to the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Joint Performance Review Committee. It also repeals existing code related to a prior election violation hotline mechanism, effectively centralizing these functions under the new unit.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include the Office of the Attorney General, which gains new administrative powers, oversight capabilities, and legal authority regarding election investigations. State-level election officials and the State Board of Election Commissioners also benefit from a more formalized process for tracking and investigating election-related complaints, as well as the creation of a centralized database. The public, in theory, benefits from enhanced mechanisms for reporting and investigating alleged election irregularities, which proponents argue contributes to greater transparency and confidence in the electoral system.
Who Might Suffer?
Individuals or entities who find themselves the subject of an investigation by the new unit may be negatively impacted by the increased enforcement and investigative powers granted to the Attorney General's office. This could lead to increased legal scrutiny, the potential for civil litigation and monetary penalties, and, if cases are referred for prosecution, the risk of criminal charges. Additionally, some critics may argue that the centralization of investigative authority in an elected executive office could lead to politically motivated investigations or an intimidating environment for election workers and voters.
Vote Records
Third Reading
April 5, 2023View individual votes (35)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane English | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Linda Chesterfield | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Jonathan Dismang | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Greg Leding | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Missy Irvin | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Bryan King | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| Kim Hammer | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Stephanie Flowers | Democrat | Senate | Absent |
| Frederick Love | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Terry Rice | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Reginald Murdock | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Gary Stubblefield | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jim Dotson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| John Payton | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Alan Clark | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ronald Caldwell | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| Bart Hester | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jimmy Hickey | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Dan Sullivan | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| David Wallace | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Blake Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Justin Boyd | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clarke Tucker | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Scott Flippo | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Clint Penzo | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Mark Johnson | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ricky Hill | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Breanne Davis | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ben Gilmore | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Joshua Bryant | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Matt McKee | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Jim Petty | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Steve Crowell | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Tyler Dees | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Matt Stone | Republican | Senate | Yea |
Third Reading
April 3, 2023View individual votes (100)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred Allen | Democrat | House | NV |
| Lane Jean | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Meeks | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mark Perry | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jon Eubanks | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matthew Shepherd | Republican | House | NV |
| Jeff Wardlaw | Republican | House | Yea |
| Bruce Cozart | Republican | House | Yea |
| David Whitaker | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Deborah Ferguson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Charlene Fite | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mike Holcomb | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Magie | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Mark McElroy | Republican | House | Yea |
| Josh Miller | Republican | House | Yea |
| Richard Womack | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jack Ladyman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Robin Lundstrum | Republican | House | Yea |
| Dwight Tosh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Lanny Fite | Republican | House | Yea |
| Grant Hodges | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick Beck | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mary Bentley | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Eaves | Republican | House | Yea |
| Justin Gonzales | Republican | House | Yea |
| Julie Mayberry | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ken Ferguson | Democrat | House | NV |
| Ron Mcnair | Republican | House | Yea |
| Milton Nicks | Democrat | House | NV |
| Marcus Richmond | Republican | House | Yea |
| Vivian Flowers | Democrat | House | NV |
| Deann Vaught | Republican | House | Yea |
| Karilyn Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Sonia Eubanks Barker | Republican | House | Yea |
| Frances Cavenaugh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jack Fortner | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jimmie Gazaway | Republican | House | Yea |
| Roger Lynch | Republican | House | Yea |
| John Maddox | Republican | House | Yea |
| Aaron Pilkington | Republican | House | Yea |
| Johnny Rye | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Warren | Republican | House | Yea |
| Danny Watson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Carlton Wing | Republican | House | Yea |
| Austin Mccollum | Republican | House | Yea |
| Carol Dalby | Republican | House | NV |
| Steve Hollowell | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brian Evans | Republican | House | Yea |
| Lee Johnson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Andrew Collins | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Stan Berry | Republican | House | Yea |
| Harlan Breaux | Republican | House | Yea |
| Cameron Cooper | Republican | House | Yea |
| Nicole Clowney | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Cindy Crawford | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Garner | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Tippi McCullough | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Jay Richardson | Democrat | House | NV |
| Jamie Scott | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Jim Wooten | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Ennett | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Richard McGrew | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joy Springer | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Howard Beaty | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tony Furman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendon Underwood | Republican | House | Yea |
| David Ray | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mark Berry | Republican | House | Yea |
| John Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick McClure | Republican | House | Yea |
| Keith Brooks | Republican | House | Yea |
| Delia Haak | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ashley Hudson | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Jon Milligan | Republican | House | Yea |
| RJ Hawk | Republican | House | Yea |
| Wade Andrews | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rebecca Burkes | Republican | House | Yea |
| DeAnna Hodges | Republican | House | Yea |
| Hope Duke | Republican | House | Yea |
| Zack Gramlich | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mindy McAlindon | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Duffield | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stetson Painter | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steve Unger | Republican | House | Yea |
| Wayne Long | Republican | House | Yea |
| Scott Richardson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brandon Achor | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jeremiah Moore | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joey Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Shad Pearce | Republican | House | Yea |
| Chad Puryear | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ryan Rose | Republican | House | Yea |
| Bart Schulz | Republican | House | Yea |
| Trey Steimel | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tara Shephard | Democrat | House | NV |
| Jeremy Wooldridge | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendra Moore | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brit McKenzie | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steven Walker | Republican | House | Yea |
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