86R2284 ATP-D
 
  By: Israel 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 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 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.  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 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.