DATE: February 22, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: James A. Kus - County Clerk/Registrar of Voters
SUBJECT: State Agreement for Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Section 301 Grant Funding
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Agreement No. 21G30105 with the State of California for Federal reimbursement funds for the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Section 301 Voting Systems Program effective upon execution by the State Department of General Services through January 18, 2025 ($1,001,535).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will provide the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters Department (Department) with HAVA Section 301 funding for the upgrade or replacement of voting systems accessible to individuals with disabilities and the improvement of the administration of elections in accordance with HAVA Section 251(b)(2)(A). There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should the recommended action not be approved, the County will not be awarded a total of $1,001,535. in Federal grant funds, and the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters will not be able to execute and submit documentation required for the HAVA Section 301 Voting Systems Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The initial HAVA Section 301 award for Fresno County was $2,698,783. A total of $1,697,248 has been expended to date, leaving a balance of $1,001,535 in available funding. The grant amount of $1,001,535 was included in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Org. 28500500 budget for HAVA 301. There is no matching funds requirement for this grant. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Departments Org 2850 FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget and will be recommended in subsequent budgets. The proposed Agreement contains a provision to allow claim reimbursement for permissible expenses and activities that occur after December 1, 2021, and through January 18, 2025.
DISCUSSION:
The HAVA Section 301 program funding is specifically for the lease or purchase of approved voting systems or components that are accessible for individuals with disabilities and provide for “second chance” voting by notifying voters of overvotes, undervotes, or other potential errors and for actions that improve the administration of elections. The HAVA Section 301 Voting Systems Programs Agreement has been renewed or extended upon mutual agreement with the State of California four times since 2007. The most recent renewal was executed on August 23, 2016, when your Board approved Agreement No. 16-514, which established a new HAVA Section 301 Agreement with the State of California in the amount of $1,797,009 and extended the term of the Agreement through June 30, 2021.
Approval of the recommended action will establish a new HAVA Section 301 Agreement with the State of California in the amount of $1,001,535, effective upon execution by the State through January 18, 2025, to allow for the County to expend the funds. The proposed Agreement contains a provision to allow claim reimbursement for permissible expenses and activities that occur after December 1, 2021, and through January 18, 2025.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #22, August 23, 2016
BAI #18, December 8, 2015
BAI #18, April 17, 2012
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with the Secretary of State
CAO ANALYST:
Raul Guerra