House Bill No. 7129 amends Section 9-239 of the general statutes to streamline the process for municipalities to acquire voting tabulators and accessories. The bill allows the Secretary of the State to directly purchase approved voting tabulators and accessories from manufacturers, bypassing the previous requirement that municipal fiscal authorities authorize payment for such acquisitions. This change is intended to facilitate the distribution of voting equipment to municipalities, ensuring they have the necessary tools for elections.

The new legal language includes the insertion of subsections (a) and (b) in Section 9-239, which clarify the roles of municipal officials and the Secretary of the State in the procurement and transfer of voting equipment. Specifically, subsection (b) states that the Secretary of the State can purchase and transfer ownership of voting tabulators and accessories to municipal officials responsible for providing them. The bill is expected to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the tabulators will be distributed directly from the manufacturer, funded through prior bond allocations.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-239
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-239
File No. 366: 9-239