| |
| |
|
|
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. |