I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5676
To establish a Commission for the comprehensive study of voting procedures
in Federal, State, and local elections, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 15, 2000
Mr. GREENWOOD (for himself, Mr. FROST, Mr. HUTCHINSON, and Mr.
HASTINGS of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish a Commission for the comprehensive study of
voting procedures in Federal, State, and local elections,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission on the
Comprehensive Study of Voting Procedures Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) Americans are increasingly concerned about
current voting procedures;
(2) Americans are increasingly concerned about
the speed and timeliness of vote counts;
(3) Americans are increasingly concerned about
the accuracy of vote counts;
(4) Americans are increasingly concerned about
the security of voting procedures;
(5) the shift in the United States is to the in-
creasing use of technology which calls for a reassess-
ment of the use of standardized technology for Fed-
eral elections; and
(6) there is a need for Congress to establish a
method for standardizing voting procedures in order
to ensure the integrity of Federal elections.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established the Commission on the Com-
prehensive Study of Voting Procedures (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall complete a
thorough study of all issues relating to voting procedures
in Federal, State, and local elections, including the fol-
lowing:
(1) Voting procedures in Federal, State, and
local government elections.
(2) Voting procedures that represent the best
practices in Federal, State, and local government
elections.
(3) Legislation and regulatory efforts that af-
fect voting procedures issues.
(4) The implementation of standardized voting
procedures, including standardized technology, for
Federal, State, and local government elections.
(5) The speed and timeliness of vote counts in
Federal, State and local elections.
(6) The accuracy of vote counts in Federal,
State and local elections.
(7) The security of voting procedures in Fed-
eral, State and local elections.
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission shall de-
velop recommendations on the matters studied under sub-
section (a).
(c) REPORTS.—
(1) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days
after the expiration of the period referred to in sub-
section (a), the Commission shall submit a report,
that has been approved by a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission, to the President and Con-
gress which shall contain a detailed statement of the
findings and conclusions of the Commission, to-
gether with its recommendations for such legislation
and administrative actions as it considers appro-
priate.
(2) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may
submit to the President and Congress any interim
reports that are approved by a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission.
(3) ADDITIONAL
REPORTS.—The Commission
may, together with the report submitted under para-
graph (1), submit additional reports that contain
any dissenting or minority opinions of the members
of the Commission.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 5 members of whom—
(1) 1 shall be appointed by the President;
(2) 1 shall be appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate;
(3) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate;
(4) 1 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives; and
(5) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives.
(b) DATE OF APPOINTMENT.—The appointments of
the members of the Commission shall be made not later
than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) TERMS.—Each member of the Commission shall
be appointed 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 man-
ner in which the original appointment was made.
(e) MEETINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet
at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its
members.
(2) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days
after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold
its first meeting.
(f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings.
(g) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among its members.
administrative support services that are necessary to en-
able the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.
(f) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may contract with
and compensate persons and Federal agencies for supplies
and services without regard to section 3709 of the Revised
Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
(g) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—The Commission may
accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services
or property to carry out this Act.
SEC. 7. 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 pre-
scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in-
cluding 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 Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I 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) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the
Commission may, without regard to the civil service
laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an exec-
utive director and such other additional personnel as
may be necessary to enable the Commission to per-
form its duties. The employment of an executive di-
rector shall be subject to confirmation by the Com-
mission.
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson of the
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title
5, United States Code, relating to classification of
positions and General Schedule pay rates, except
that the rate of pay for the executive director and
other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316
of such title.
(d) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the
Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.
(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
SEC. 8. LIMITATION ON CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.
Any new contracting authority provided for in this
Act shall be effective only to the extent, or in the amounts,
provided for in advance in appropriations Acts.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the
date on which the Commission submits its report under
section 4.
SEC. 10. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the
enactment of an Act with respect to voting procedures
during the period in which the Commission is carrying out
its duties under this Act.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to the Commission
to carry out this Act.
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums appropriated under
the authorization contained in this section shall remain
available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.
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