Bill > HB455

This bill establishes a new Unit of Election Investigations and Security within the Kentucky Attorney General's Office to oversee and investigate potential election law violations. The unit will have broad powers, including receiving complaints about election law violations from any source, reviewing reports of potential infractions, conducting independent investigations, employing investigators, and managing a voter fraud hotline. Investigators will have the authority to obtain sworn statements and issue subpoenas to gather evidence. If potential criminal violations are discovered, the unit must report findings to the Attorney General or appropriate county prosecutor. The unit is required to submit an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission by July 1st, detailing the total number of complaints received, investigations initiated, and referrals made, along with specific information about each investigated alleged violation, such as the law potentially violated, the county where it occurred, and the current status of any related investigations or criminal cases. Additionally, the bill mandates that all election law violation reports previously made to the Secretary of State or State Board of Elections must now be forwarded to this new investigative unit. Importantly, the bill clarifies that this new unit does not limit the investigative jurisdiction of other state agencies already empowered to investigate election law violations.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/hb455.html