I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2928 

To direct the Election Assistance Commission to develop and publish recommendations for best practices that States may use in establishing 

and operating independent Congressional redistricting commissions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 1, 2013 

Ms. BROWNLEY of California introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To direct the Election Assistance Commission to develop 

and publish recommendations for best practices that 

States may use in establishing and operating independent 

Congressional redistricting commissions. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fair and Independent 

5 Redistricting (FAIR) Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 2928 IH

1 (1) The Constitution requires reapportionment 

2 of seats in the House of Representatives after each 

3 decennial census. 

4 (2) One of the greatest powers that the people 

5 have is the right to elect a representative who best 

6 represents the interests of the community. 

7 (3) States are required to redraw Congressional 

8 districts after reapportionment. 

9 (4) Independent citizens redistricting commis10 sions are intended to develop Congressional redis11 tricting plans that reflect the best interests of the 

12 people, not the incumbent political parties. 

13 (5) The Election Assistance Commission 

14 (EAC), which was established by the Help America 

15 Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), is an independent, bipar16 tisan commission charged with developing guidance 

17 and best practices for State voting systems. 

18 SEC. 3. DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDA19 TIONS FOR STATES ESTABLISHING INDE20 PENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS. 

21 (a) DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 18 months after 

22 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Election Assist23 ance Commission shall publish a report containing the 

24 Commission’s best practice recommendations that States 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 2928 IH

1 may use in establishing and operating independent com2 missions to develop Congressional redistricting plans. 

3 (b) CONSULTATION.—In developing the recommenda4 tions required under this Act, the Election Assistance 

5 Commission shall consult with States that have imple6 mented, or are considering implementing, independent 

7 commissions to develop Congressional redistricting plans, 

8 as well as individuals who have served on such commis9 sions. 

10 (c) DISSEMINATION.— 

11 (1) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY ONLINE.—The Com12 mission shall ensure that the report published under 

13 this section is available to the public online. 

14 (2) NOTIFICATION OF OFFICIALS.—Upon pub15 lishing the report under this section, the Commission 

16 shall notify each of the following that the report is 

17 available: 

18 (A) Each Member of Congress, including 

19 each Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the 

20 Congress. 

21 (B) The chief executive officer and chief 

22 State election official of each State, as well as 

23 the head of each house of the legislature of each 

24 State. For purposes of this subparagraph, the 

25 term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 2928 IH

1 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 

2 American Samoa, the United States Virgin Is3 lands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 

4 Mariana Islands. 

Æ 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS