Subject: AB 852 -- New OVC-Sponsored CA Assembly Bill

Dear Friends of Open Voting:

I just heard the good news from Assembly Member Paul Krekorian's office!

The number is AB 852. It's called the SAFE Elections Bill. It will be on the
website next week. We cannot amend for thirty days but we can start working
on the amendments next week. We will add co-authors at the first round of
amendments. Lloyd Levine has signed on as Principal Co-Author.

Like AB 2097 last year, it would require disclosure of source code (and
details about all related hardware and software) upon state certification.
Unlike AB 2097, it will only apply to new certifications. Also, we want to
provide an incentive for vendors that use true open source (free) software.
I have proposed a break on certification costs.

We have not yet arrived at language that Secretary of State Bowen can fully
support. There is some work to do, but I'm confident we can get something
she can back.

The first hearing will probably be in April -- I don't see how we can get
the amendments done soon enough to schedule it for March.

Thanks for your continued support. This bill represents a great endeavor,
but also involves a lot more work.

Alan Dechert
http://openvoting.org