[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5653 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5653

To establish a grant program to assist State and local governments with 
improving the administration of elections through activities which may 
 include the modernization of voting procedures and equipment, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 11, 2000

Mr. Hutchinson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on 
   the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a grant program to assist State and local governments with 
improving the administration of elections through activities which may 
 include the modernization of voting procedures and equipment, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Election Procedures Improvement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--There is hereby established a program under which 
the Attorney General shall make grants to eligible States and eligible 
units of local government for activities to improve the administration 
of elections.
    (b) Examples of Activities Funded.--In accordance with such 
criteria as the Attorney General may adopt, a State or unit of local 
government may use funds provided under the program under this Act for 
such activities as it considers appropriate to improve the 
administration of its elections, including the modernization or 
replacement of equipment, the hiring of additional non-administrative 
personnel, and the enhancement of the procedures used to tabulate and 
report election results.
    (c) Eligibility.--A State and a unit of local government is 
eligible to receive a grant under the program under this Act if it 
submits to the Attorney General (at such time and in such manner as the 
Attorney General may require) an application containing such 
information and assurances as the Attorney General may require.

SEC. 3. OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS.

    (a) Matching of Funds.--The amount provided by a grant under the 
program under this Act may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of 
the activity funded by the grant.
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--During the 1 year-period which begins on 
        the date a State or unit of local government receives a grant 
        under the program under this Act, the State or unit of local 
        government shall submit a report every 6 months to the Attorney 
        General describing the terms of the grant and the activities 
        funded by the grant.
            (2) Report by attorney general to congress.--Based on the 
        information reported by States and units of local government 
        under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall submit a report 
        to Congress on the program under this Act not later than 30 
        days after each fiscal year during which grants are made under 
        the program.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated for the 
first fiscal year which begins after the date of the enactment of this 
Act $325,000,000 to carry out this Act (which shall remain available 
until expended), of which not more than 2 percent may be used for 
administrative costs associated with the program under this Act.
    (b) Allocation Between Grants to States and Grants to Local 
Governments.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act (other than any amounts used for administrative costs)--
            (1) 50 percent shall be used for grants to eligible States; 
        and
            (2) 50 percent shall be used for grants to eligible units 
        of local government.
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