I
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 gov-
ernments with improving the administration of elections
through activities which may include the modernization
of voting procedures and equipment, and for other pur-
poses.
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 ‘‘Election Procedures
Improvement Act’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is hereby established a pro-
gram 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 accord-
ance 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 activi-
ties as it considers appropriate to improve the administra-
tion of its elections, including the modernization or re-
placement of equipment, the hiring of additional non-ad-
ministrative personnel, and the enhancement of the proce-
dures used to tabulate and report election results.
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—A State and a unit of local govern-
ment 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 CON-
GRESS.—Based on the information reported by
States and units of local government under para-
graph (1), the Attorney General shall submit a re-
port 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 appro-
priated 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 adminis-
trative costs associated with the program under this Act.
(b) ALLOCATION BETWEEN GRANTS TO STATES AND
GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—Of the amount au-
thorized 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 eligi-
ble States; and
(2) 50 percent shall be used for grants to eligi-
ble units of local government.
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