§193. Funding

The Secretary of State may apply for and accept federal or other funds for the purpose of developing and implementing a centralized central voter registration system. If matching funds are required to obtain a grant, the Secretary of State may submit legislation to request necessary funds. Notwithstanding Title 5, section 1587, the Secretary of State may also enter into a lease- purchase agreement or other similar agreement for the purpose of developing the system.

Sec. 43. 21-A MRSA §194, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 637, §2, is amended to read:

The Secretary of State may adopt rules regarding implementation and administration of a centralized central voter registration system to determine the pricing, accessibility and availability of information contained in the database and the appropriate use and resale of that information; to establish a plan to implement the system in stages for all municipal jurisdictions; to identify additional system features or voter information to be included in the system or provide for the confidentiality of certain personal information or limitations on the use and distribution of that information; and to establish a system to identify duplicate records, including establishment of a voter identification indicator.

Sec. 44. 21-A MRSA §195, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 637, §2, is amended to read:

§195. Report

The Secretary of State shall report annually, by March 1st, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over voter registration matters on the progress of the implementation of the centralized central voter registration system developed pursuant to this subchapter. The report may

include suggested legislation necessary to implement or administer the centralized central voter registration system. The committee may report out legislation regarding the centralized central voter registration system to the Legislature during the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature and any subsequent Legislature.

Sec. 45. 21-A MRSA §312, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §18, is further amended to read: