It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 17-8-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-8 entitled "Local Canvassing Authorities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 17-8-8. General penalty clause. -- ADD} Every person who violates any provision of this chapter, unless another penalty is provided in this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. {DEL This section shall not apply to the town of Westerly. DEL}

SECTION 2. Section 17-11-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-11 entitled "Voting Districts and Officials" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 17-11-15. Persons ineligible to serve as election officials. -- ADD} No person shall be so appointed or serve as an election official who has been convicted, found guilty, pleaded guilty or nolo contendere, or placed on a deferred or suspended sentence, or on probation, for any crime which involves moral turpitude or which constitutes a violation of any of the election or caucus laws of this or any other state. No person shall be appointed to serve as an election official who is an officer or employee of the United States, of this state, or of any city or town of this state {ADD . ADD} {DEL except for public school employees, but>no DEL} {ADD No ADD} person shall be disqualified simply because he is a notary public. No candidate for any office to be filled at any election shall be appointed at the election as an election official. Every election official shall make an affidavit before some member of the proper board of canvassers, to the effect that he or she is not disqualified by reason of the provisions of this section; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to moderators and town clerks {DEL ; DEL} {ADD . ADD} {DEL nor shall the prohibition against state, city, or town employees include school teachers. The first, second, and fourth sentences of this section shall not apply to the town of Westerly. DEL}

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.