Louisiana § RS 18:1400.21 - Help Louisiana Vote Fund

§ RS 18:1400.21. Help Louisiana Vote Fund

            A. The Help Louisiana Vote Fund is established as a special fund in the state treasury, hereinafter referred to as the "fund", for purposes of improving Louisiana's elections in accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, hereinafter referred to as "HAVA".

            B. The sources of money deposited into the fund shall be any federal monies received by the state pursuant to HAVA and any monies appropriated to the fund. State monies appropriated to the fund may be deposited in any account designated in the appropriation. After compliance with the requirements of the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, federal monies shall be deposited into the fund and allocated by the state treasurer to one of the following five accounts. Within ten days of receipt of any federal monies by the state treasurer, the secretary of state shall provide written instructions to the state treasurer with respect to the specific account into which such monies shall be deposited.

            (1) The Election Administration Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Section 101 of Title I of HAVA with respect to improving administration of elections. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only for improving the administration of elections, acquisition of equipment and voting system technologies, and other requirements of Title III of HAVA with respect to uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration.

            (2) The Voting Systems Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Section 102 of Title I of HAVA with respect to replacement of punch card and lever voting systems or to reimburse the state for expenditures made after January 1, 2001, for replacement of such systems. Reimbursement monies received under Section 102 of Title I of HAVA which are deposited into this account shall be appropriated only for the replacement of lever voting systems or to satisfy the state's responsibilities under Title II of HAVA. All other monies in this account shall be appropriated only for the replacement of lever voting systems.

            (3) The HAVA Requirements Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Title II of HAVA designated as requirements payments. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only to meet the requirements of Title III of HAVA with respect to uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements, after which any residual amounts available may be used for improving administration of federal elections.

            (4) The Voting Access Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Title II of HAVA with respect to assuring voting access for individuals with disabilities. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only for (a) improvement of polling places to ensure accessibility to individuals with disabilities in a manner that provides the same opportunity for participation, privacy, and independence as for other voters; and (b) providing individuals with disabilities with information about accessible polling places, including outreach programs and training for election officials.

            (5) The College Program Account is established within the fund, into which the state treasurer shall deposit monies received pursuant to Title V of HAVA with respect to the Help America Vote College Program. Monies in this account shall be appropriated only for activities and programs to encourage students enrolled at institutions of higher education to assist state and local governments in the administration of elections by serving as nonpartisan poll workers or assistants and to encourage state and local governments to use the services of such students.

            C.(1) All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Such monies shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, and interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the fund after compliance with the requirements of the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. The state treasurer shall annually allocate investment earnings among the five accounts proportionally based on the fund balance of each account at the time of the allocation.

            (2) Prior to the expenditure of any monies from the fund for the acquisition, including a lease, of any element or component of a voting system as defined in R.S. 18:1351, the secretary of state shall submit the details of any such expenditure, including any related contract or proposed contract, to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for review and approval.

            Acts 2003, No. 142, §1, eff. May 28, 2003; Acts 2014, No. 811, §9, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2021, No. 480, §1, eff. July 1, 2021.