Bill Text: TX HB2000 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a fund to assist local governments with the acquisition of voting system equipment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-03 - Left pending in committee [HB2000 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB2000-Introduced.html
85R6389 ATP-D | ||
By: Israel | H.B. No. 2000 |
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relating to the creation of a fund to assist local governments with | ||
the acquisition of voting system equipment. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 18.061(d), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(d) The secretary of state may contract with counties to | ||
provide them with electronic data services to facilitate the | ||
implementation of the statewide computerized voter registration | ||
list. The secretary shall use funds collected under the contracts | ||
to defray expenses incurred in implementing the statewide | ||
computerized voter registration list. Any amounts collected under | ||
the contracts not necessary to defray expenses incurred in | ||
implementing the list shall be allocated to the voting system fund | ||
established under Subchapter D, Chapter 123. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 123, Election Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subchapter D to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER D. VOTING SYSTEM FUND | ||
Sec. 123.091. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Eligible equipment" means voting system | ||
equipment that complies with applicable state and federal law on | ||
the date it is acquired. | ||
(2) "Fund" means the voting system fund. | ||
Sec. 123.092. VOTING SYSTEM FUND. (a) The voting system | ||
fund is an account in the general revenue fund. | ||
(b) The fund consists of: | ||
(1) money allocated to the fund under Section 18.061; | ||
(2) money appropriated to the fund by the legislature | ||
under Subsection (d); and | ||
(3) money transferred to the fund at the discretion of | ||
the legislature. | ||
(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only for a grant | ||
under Section 123.093. | ||
(d) The legislature shall transfer to the fund an amount | ||
equal to two times the amount of money deposited under Subsection | ||
(b)(1). | ||
Sec. 123.093. GRANTS FROM FUND. (a) A county or city may | ||
apply to the secretary of state for a grant under this subchapter to | ||
replace voting system equipment. A county or city is eligible to | ||
receive a grant equal to not more than 50 percent of the total cost | ||
of the eligible equipment. | ||
(b) The secretary of state shall develop criteria for the | ||
fair and proportional distribution of grants that consider: | ||
(1) the number of voters likely to be served by the | ||
eligible equipment; | ||
(2) the age and condition of any equipment proposed | ||
for replacement; | ||
(3) the need for equitable distribution of grant funds | ||
to both rural and urban counties and cities; | ||
(4) whether the county or city governing body has | ||
adopted a reasonable long-term plan to address the maintenance, | ||
repair, and eventual replacement needs for the eligible equipment; | ||
and | ||
(5) any other factor considered relevant by the | ||
secretary of state. | ||
(c) If the total amount requested under qualifying grant | ||
applications exceeds the total amount available for the purpose of | ||
awarding grants, amounts shall be allocated using the criteria | ||
developed by the secretary of state under Subsection (b). | ||
Sec. 123.094. APPLICATION FOR GRANT; CERTIFICATION OF | ||
COSTS. (a) To receive a grant under Section 123.093, a county or | ||
city must submit an application to the secretary of state. The | ||
secretary of state shall prescribe a form for the application. | ||
(b) The application must describe: | ||
(1) the type or types of eligible equipment proposed | ||
for purchase or lease; | ||
(2) the expected total cost of the eligible equipment | ||
and any sources of funding that will be used for its purchase or | ||
lease in addition to the grant funding provided by this subchapter; | ||
(3) the county's or city's plan to address the | ||
long-term maintenance, repair, and eventual replacement costs for | ||
the eligible equipment; and | ||
(4) any other information required by the secretary of | ||
state. | ||
(c) The secretary of state shall establish: | ||
(1) a deadline for receipt of grant applications; | ||
(2) a procedure for awarding and distributing grants; | ||
and | ||
(3) a process for verifying the proper use of the | ||
grants after distribution. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |