FAIR Map Act

Bill: 115-hr-7252
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
Introduced: 2018-12-11
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional districts and representation

Congressional oversight

Geography and mapping

Government studies and investigations

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-12-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Fair And Inclusive Redistricting Map Act or the FAIR Map Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Justice to enter into an agreement with the National Academies under which it shall conduct a study to: (1) develop guidelines, best practices, and examples consistent with outlined criteria to aid states in drawing congressional district maps; and (2) define metrics and limitations to such metrics for geographic contiguity, compactness, and maintaining partisan symmetry.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7252 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 11, 2018 Mr. McNerney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To direct the Attorney General to enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study to develop guidelines, best practices, and examples for congressional redistricting.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fair And Inclusive Redistricting Map Act or the FAIR Map Act . 2. Congressional District Map Study (a) In General Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies under which the National Academies shall conduct a study to— (1) develop guidelines, best practices, and examples consistent with the criteria in subsection (b) to aid States in drawing congressional district maps; and (2) define metrics and limitations to such metrics for geographic contiguity, compactness, and maintaining partisan symmetry. (b) Map Criteria (1) Primary Criteria The guidelines, best practices, and examples developed under subsection (a) shall— (A) comply with the Constitution of the United States, including the requirement of equal population; (B) comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.); and (C) maintain geographic contiguity and compactness. (2) Secondary Criteria To the extent practicable, the guidelines, best practices, and examples developed under subsection (a) shall— (A) respect natural and existing political boundaries; (B) respect communities of interest; and (C) maintain partisan symmetry. (c) Completion of Study The Study required under subsection (a) shall be completed at the later of— (1) January 1, 2021; or (2) the date that is 1 year after the date of the agreement in subsection (a). (d) Report After the completion of the study, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress and make publicly available the results of the study described in subsection (a). 3. Authorization of Appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.