[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5250 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5250

   To direct the Election Assistance Commission to make an election 
administration improvement payment to the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands under title I of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, to 
 treat the Commonwealth as a State for the other purposes of such Act, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2010

  Mr. Sablan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                   Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Election Assistance Commission to make an election 
administration improvement payment to the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands under title I of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, to 
 treat the Commonwealth as a State for the other purposes of such Act, 
                        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. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT PAYMENT TO COMMONWEALTH 
              OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.

    (a) Payment to Commonwealth.--The Election Assistance Commission 
shall make a single payment to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the payments 
which would have been made to the Commonwealth under title I of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15301 et seq.) if--
            (1) the Commonwealth had been treated as a State under such 
        Act at the time payments were made under such title to other 
        States; and
            (2) the Commonwealth had been subject to the same minimum 
        payment amounts applicable under such title to the Commonwealth 
        of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the United States 
        Virgin Islands.
    (b) Use of Payment.--The Commonwealth shall use the payment made 
under this section to carry out the same activities (subject to the 
same conditions) for which States received payments under title I of 
the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the payment under this 
section.

SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS AS STATE 
              FOR PURPOSES OF HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002.

    (a) In General.--Section 901 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(42 U.S.C. 15541) is amended by striking ``and the United States Virgin 
Islands'' and inserting ``the United States Virgin Islands, and (except 
for purposes of title I) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments Relating to Treatment of Territories.--
            (1) Selection of local election officials to serve on 
        election assistance commission standards board.--Section 
        213(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15343(a)(2)) is amended by 
        striking ``and American Samoa,'' and inserting ``American 
        Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,''.
            (2) Minimum amount of requirements payment.--Section 
        252(c)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 15402(c)(2)) is amended by 
        striking ``or the United States Virgin Islands,'' and inserting 
        ``the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands,''.
            (3) Consultation of help america vote foundation with local 
        election officials.--Section 15602(c) of title 36, United 
        States Code, is amended by striking ``and the United States 
        Virgin Islands'' and inserting ``the United States Virgin 
        Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to fiscal years beginning with the first fiscal year 
which begins after funds are appropriated to the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to the grant under section 1.
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