ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
election integrity fund
Purpose
Establishes the Election Integrity Fund (Fund) administered by the State Treasurer to pay county recorders for election security, cybersecurity measures and improvements. Appropriates $12,000,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2023 to the Fund. Outlines requirements for the distribution of Fund monies to counties in a single general election cycle.
Background
The Secretary of State must provide personnel who are experts in electronic voting systems and procedures and in electronic voting system security to field check and review electronic voting systems and recommend needed statutory and procedural changes (A.R.S. 16-452). The Elections Procedures Manual outlines physical and data security requirements for electronic voting systems. Counties must also conduct periodic election security and cybersecurity assessments and develop appropriate security procedures and best practices after consultation with information technology and security professionals (E.P.M. Ch. 4 (III)).
H.B. 2493 appropriates $12,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2023 to the Fund.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Fund, administered by the State Treasurer and consisting of legislative appropriations.
2. Allows monies in the Fund to be used only to pay county recorders for election security, cybersecurity measures and improvements, including for additional staffing.
3. Requires county recorders to apply for Fund monies and requires the State Treasurer, upon review and approval of applications, to make payments from the Fund.
4. Appropriates $12,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2023 to the Fund.
5. Caps the distribution of Fund monies to counties in a single general election cycle as follows:
a) $3,000,000 to Maricopa County;
b) $1,000,000 to Pima County; and
c) $8,000,000 to counties with a population of fewer than 1,000,000 persons based on a pro rata basis based on registered voters in each county on the general effective date.
6. Exempts the Fund from lapsing.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
Caps the distribution of Fund monies to counties in a single general election cycle as follows:
o $3,000,000 to Maricopa County;
o $1,000,000 to Pima County; and
o $8,000,000 to counties with a population of fewer than 1,000,000 persons based on a pro rata basis based on registered voters in each county on the general effective date.
House Action Senate Action
GE 2/2/22 DP 8-4-0-1 GOV 3/21/22 DPA 4-3-0
3rd Read 3/2/22 56-2-2 APPROPS 3/29/22 DPA 10-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 30, 2022
MH/HW/slp