[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5677 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5677

  To establish a Commission to study and make recommendations on the 
implementation of standardized voting procedures in the Federal, State, 
          and local electoral process, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 15, 2000

   Mr. Holt 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 Commission to study and make recommendations on the 
implementation of standardized voting procedures in the Federal, State, 
          and local electoral process, 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 ``Commission on Elections Procedures 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the Commission on Elections Procedures (hereafter in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission shall be to study 
Federal, State, and local electoral processes and to make 
recommendations on the implementation of standardized voting 
procedures, including standardized technology, for Federal, State, and 
local elections.

SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 
members who shall be appointed as follows:
            (1) 2 shall be appointed by the President.
            (2) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (3) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate.
            (4) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (5) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
        House of Representatives.
    (b) Qualifications of Members.--Members shall be appointed to the 
Commission from among individuals who have expertise in election laws, 
the United States Constitution, and the history of the United States, 
or other pertinent qualifications or experience.
    (c) Terms.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later 
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. Appointments 
shall be for the life of the Commission.
    (d) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment.
    (e) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall hold its first meeting.
            (2) Additional meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the 
        call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
    (f) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The members of the 
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among 
its members.
    (g) Quorum.--A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum 
for the transaction of business.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall examine the nature and 
consequences of Federal, State, and local government electoral 
processes and make recommendations on its findings.
    (b) Specific Issues To Be Addressed.--Among other electoral issues 
the Commission determines are relevant, the Commission shall examine 
and report to the President, the Congress, and the Federal Election 
Commission on the following issues:
            (1) Voting procedures in Federal, State, and local 
        government elections.
            (2) Legislation and regulatory efforts that affect voting 
        procedures issues.
            (3) The implementation of standardized voting procedures, 
        including standardized technology for Federal, State and local 
        government elections.
    (c) Final Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
initial meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the 
President, the Congress, and the Federal Election Commission a final 
report which includes an analysis of the matters discussed under 
subsection (b) and recommendations for addressing the problems 
identified as part of the Commission's analysis.
    (d) Separate Views.--Any member of the Commission may submit 
additional findings and recommendations as part of the final report.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act 
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Commission may find advisable to fulfill the 
requirements of this Act. The Commission may administer oaths and 
affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure 
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the 
Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of such 
department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
    (c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Chairperson of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services 
shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the 
administrative support services that are necessary to enable the 
Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.

SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is 
not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be 
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including 
travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of 
the duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are 
officers or employees of the United States shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that received for their services as 
officers or employees of the United States.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission.
    (c) Staff.--(1) The chairperson of the Commission may appoint and 
terminate staff of the Commission, request the detail of Federal 
employees, and accept temporary and intermittent services in accordance 
with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code.
    (2) The employment of an executive director of the Commission shall 
be subject to the approval of the Commission.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the 
Commission submits its report under section 4.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for the 
Commission to carry out this Act.
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