86R21176 ATP-D
 
  By: Israel, Capriglione, Longoria, Klick, H.B. No. 362
      Anchia
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 362:
 
  By:  Klick C.S.H.B. No. 362
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  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.  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 is certified by the United States Election
  Assistance Commission and the secretary of state on the date it is
  acquired and that uses or produces a paper ballot by which a voter
  can verify that the voter's selections are accurately reflected.
               (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 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 fund is exempt from the application of Section
  403.095, Government Code.
         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 or to reimburse the replacement or
  conversion of voting system equipment purchased on or after
  December 1, 2016.  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 replaced,
  converted, or proposed for replacement or conversion;
               (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; VERIFICATION 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 purchased,
  leased, converted, or proposed for purchase, lease, or conversion;
               (2)  the actual or expected total cost of the eligible
  equipment and any sources of funding used or that will be used for
  its purchase, lease, or conversion 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.
         Sec. 123.095.  STUDY ON VOTING SYSTEM FUNDING. (a) The
  secretary of state, in cooperation with county officers who
  administer elections, shall conduct a study to determine the best
  manner in which to fund the voting system fund under this subchapter
  for the replacement or conversion of voting system equipment, and
  make recommendations based on the determinations.
         (b)  Not later than December 31, 2020, the secretary of state
  shall report the study's findings to the committees of each house of
  the legislature with jurisdiction over elections.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.