H.R. 653 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 653 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2013 Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself and Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To direct the Election Assistance Commission to carry out a pilot program under which the Commission shall provide funds to local educational agencies for initiatives to provide voter registration information to secondary school students in the 12th grade. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Students Voicing Opinions in Today’s Elections (VOTE) Act. 2. Pilot program for providing voter registration information to secondary school students prior to graduation (a) Pilot program The Election Assistance Commission (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Commission) shall carry out a pilot program under which the Commission shall provide funds during fiscal year 2013 to eligible local educational agencies for initiatives to provide information on registering to vote in elections for public office to secondary school students in the 12th grade. (b) Eligibility A local educational agency is eligible to receive funds under the pilot program under this Act if the agency submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an application containing— (1) a description of the initiatives the agency intends to carry out with the funds; (2) an estimate of the costs associated with such initiatives; and (3) such other information and assurances as the Commission may require. (c) Consultation with election officials A local educational agency receiving funds under the pilot program shall consult with the State and local election officials who are responsible for administering elections for public office in the area served by the agency in developing the initiatives the agency will carry out with the funds. (d) Definitions In this Act, the terms local educational agency and secondary school have the meanings given such terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 3. Reports (a) Reports by recipients of funds Not later than the expiration of the 90-day period which begins on the date of the receipt of the funds, each local educational agency receiving funds under the pilot program under this Act shall submit a report to the Commission describing the initiatives carried out with the funds and analyzing their effectiveness. (b) Report by Commission Not later than the expiration of the 60-day period which begins on the date the Commission receives the final report submitted by a local educational agency under subsection (a), the Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the pilot program under this Act. 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.