,i  #aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #aajb  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,february #af1       
#bjag,ms4 ,lofgren 7for herself1 ,mr4   
,brendan ,f4 ,boyle of ,pennsylvania1   
,ms4 ,brownley of ,california1 ,mr4     
,clay1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,mrs4 ,davis of     
,california1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,mrs4      
,dingell1 ,mr4 ,ellison1 ,ms4 ,eshoo1   
,ms4 ,esty1 ,mr4 ,foster1 ,mr4          
,garamendi1 ,mr4 ,hastings1 ,mr4 ,hoyer1
 ,mr4 ,huffman1 ,ms4 ,eddie ,bernice    
,johnson of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,johnson of    
,georgia1 ,ms4 ,kaptur1 ,mrs4 ,lawrence1
 ,ms4 ,lee1 ,mr4 ,lowenthal1 ,ms4       
,matsui1 ,mr4 ,nadler1 ,ms4 ,norton1    
,mr4 ,o',rourke1 ,ms4 ,pelosi1 ,ms4     
,pingree1 ,mr4 ,price of ,north         
,carolina1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 ,mr4 ,ryan of 
,ohio1 ,mr4 ,sarbanes1 ,mr4 ,schiff1    
,ms4 ,shea-,porter1 ,ms4 ,slaughter1    
,mr4 ,suozzi1 ,mr4 ,swalwell of         
,california1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,mr4         
,thompson of ,california1 ,mr4 ,veasey1 
,mr4 ,welch1 ,mr4 ,delaney1 ,mr4        

,yarmuth1 ,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of            
,california1 ,mr4 ,sherman1 ,mr4 ,larson
 of ,connecticut1 ,mr4 ,raskin1 ,mr4    
,brown of ,maryland1 and ,mr4 ,nolan7   
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on the      
,judiciary  ,a ,,bill  ,to require      
,states to conduct ,congressional       
redistricting through independent       
commissions1 and for other purposes4    
#a4 ,short title2 table of contents  7a7
 ,short ,title ,this ,act may be cited  
as the ,redistricting ,reform ,act of   
#bjag4  7b7 ,table of ,contents ,the    
table of contents of this ,act is as    
follows3  ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table 
of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,finding of      
constitutional authority4 ,title        
,i--,requirements for ,congressional    
,redistricting ,sec4 #aja4 ,limit on    
,congressional redistricting after an   
apportionment4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,requiring   
,congressional redistricting to be      
conducted through plan of independent   
,state commission4 ,title               

,,ii--,independent ,redistricting       
,commissions ,sec4 #bja4 ,independent   
redistricting commission4 ,sec4 #bjb4   
,establishment of selection pool of     
individuals eligible to serve as members
 of commission4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,criteria   
for redistricting plan by independent   
commission2 public notice and input4    
,sec4 #bjd4 ,establishment of related   
entities4 ,title ,,iii--,role of ,courts
 in ,development of ,redistricting      
,plans ,sec4 #cja4 ,enactment of plan   
developed by #c-;judge court4 ,sec4     
#cjb4 ,special rule for redistricting   
conducted under order of ,federal court4
 ,title ,,iv--,administrative and       
,miscellaneous ,provisions ,sec4 #dja4  
,payments to ,states for carrying out   
redistricting4 ,sec4 #djb4 ,civil       
enforcement4 ,sec4 #djc4 ,state         
apportionment notice defined4 ,sec4     
#djd4 ,no effect on elections for ,state
 and local office4 ,sec4 #dje4          
,effective date4  #b4 ,finding of       
constitutional authority ,congress finds

 that it has the authority to establish 
the terms and conditions ,states must   
follow in carrying out ,congressional   
redistricting after an apportionment of 
,members of the ,house of               
,representatives because--  7#a7 the    
authority granted to ,congress under    
article ,i1 section #d of the           
,constitution of the ,united ,states    
gives ,congress the power to enact laws 
governing the time1 place1 and manner of
 elections for ,members of the ,house of
 ,representatives2 and  7#b7 the        
authority granted to ,congress under    
section #e of the fourteenth amendment  
to the ,constitution gives ,congress the
 power to enact laws to enforce section 
#b of such amendment1 which requires    
,representatives to be apportioned among
 the several ,states according to their 
number4  ,i ,requirements for           
,congressional ,redistricting  #aja4    
,limit on ,congressional redistricting  
after an apportionment ,the ,act        
entitled ,an ,act for the relief of     

,doctor ,ricardo ,vallejo ,samala and to
 provide for congressional              
redistricting1 approved ,december #ad1  
#aifg 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #b;c71 is amended by
 adding at the end the following3 ,a    
,state which has been redistricted in   
the manner provided by law after an     
apportionment under section #bb7;a7 of  
the ,act entitled ,an ,act to provide   
for the fifteenth and subsequent        
decennial censuses and to provide for an
 apportionment of ,representatives in   
,congress1 approved ,june #ah1 #aibi 7#b
 ,u4,s4,c4 #b;a71 may not be            
redistricted again until after the next 
apportionment of ,representatives under 
such section1 unless a court requires   
the ,state to conduct such subsequent   
redistricting to comply with the        
,constitution or to enforce the ,voting 
,rights ,act of #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4    
#ajcja et seq4744  #ajb4 ,requiring     
,congressional redistricting to be      
conducted through plan of independent   
,state commission  7a7 ,use of ,plan    

,required ,notwithstanding any other    
provision of law1 any ,congressional    
redistricting conducted by a ,state     
shall be conducted in accordance with-- 
7#a7 the redistricting plan developed   
and enacted into law by the independent 
redistricting commission established in 
the ,state1 in accordance with title    
,,ii2 or  7#b7 if a plan developed by   
such commission is not enacted into law1
 the redistricting plan developed and   
enacted into law by a #c-;judge court of
 the ,united ,states ,district ,court   
for the ,district of ,columbia1 in      
accordance with section #cja4  7b7      
,conforming amendment ,section #bb7;c7  
of the ,act entitled ,an ,act to provide
 for the fifteenth and subsequent       
decennial censuses and to provide for an
 apportionment of ,representatives in   
,congress1 approved ,june #ah1 #aibi 7#b
 ,u4,s4,c4 #b;a7c771 is amended by      
striking in the manner provided by the  
law thereof and inserting3 in the manner
 provided by the ,redistricting ,reform 

,act of #bjag4  ,,ii ,independent       
,redistricting ,commissions  #bja4      
,independent redistricting commission   
7a7 ,appointment of members  7#a7 ,in   
general ,the nonpartisan agency         
established or designated by a ,state   
under section #bjd7;a7 shall establish  
an independent redistricting commission 
for the ,state1 which shall consist of  
#ab members appointed by the agency as  
follows3  7,a7 ,the agency shall appoint
 #d members on a random basis from the  
majority category of the approved       
selection pool 7as described in section 
#bjb7;b77#a77;,a774  7,b7 ,the agency   
shall appoint #d members on a random    
basis from the minority category of the 
approved selection pool 7as described in
 section #bjb7;b77#a77;,b774  7,c7 ,the 
agency shall appoint #d members on a    
random basis from the independent       
category of the approved selection pool 
7as described in section                
#bjb7;b77#a77;,c774  7#b7 ,appointment  
of alternates to serve in case of       

vacancies ,at the time the agency       
appoints the members of the independent 
redistricting commission under paragraph
 7#a7 from each of the categories       
referred to in such paragraph1 the      
agency shall1 on a random basis1        
designate #b other individuals from such
 category to serve as alternate members 
who may be appointed to fill vacancies  
in the commission in accordance with    
paragraph 7#c74  7#c7 ,vacancy ,if a    
vacancy occurs in the commission with   
respect to a member who was appointed   
from one of the categories referred to  
in paragraph 7#a71 the nonpartisan      
agency shall fill the vacancy by        
appointing1 on a random basis1 one of   
the #b alternates from such category who
 was designated under paragraph 7#b74   
,at the time the agency appoints an     
alternate to fill a vacancy under the   
previous sentence1 the agency shall     
designate1 on a random basis1 another   
individual from the same category to    
serve as an alternate member1 in        

accordance with paragraph 7#b74  7b7    
,procedures for ,conducting ,commission 
,business  7#a7 ,chair ,members of an   
independent redistricting commission    
established under this section shall    
select by majority vote one member who  
was appointed from the independent      
category of the approved selection pool 
described in section #bjb7;b77#a77;,c7  
to serve as chair of the commission4    
,the commission may not take any action 
to develop a redistricting plan for the 
,state under section #bjc until the     
appointment of the commission's chair4  
7#b7 ,requiring majority approval for   
actions ,the independent redistricting  
commission of a ,state may not publish  
and disseminate any draft or final      
redistricting plan1 or take any other   
action1 without the approval of at      
least--  7,a7 a majority of the whole   
membership of the commission2 and  7,b7 
at least one member of the commission   
appointed from each of the categories of
 the approved selection pool described  

in section #bjb7;b77#a74  7#c7 ,quorum  
,a majority of the members of the       
commission shall constitute a quorum4   
7c7 ,staff2 ,contractors  7#a7 ,staff   
,the independent redistricting          
commission of a ,state may appoint and  
set the pay of such staff as it         
considers appropriate1 subject to ,state
 law4  7#b7 ,contractors ,the           
independent redistricting commission of 
a ,state may enter into such contracts  
with vendors as it considers            
appropriate1 subject to ,state law1     
except that any such contract shall be  
valid only if approved by the vote of a 
majority of the members of the          
commission1 including at least one      
member appointed from each of the       
categories of the approved selection    
pool described in section #bjb7;b77#a74 
7#c7 ,goal of impartiality ,the         
commission shall take such steps as it  
considers appropriate to ensure that any
 staff appointed under this subsection1 
and any vendor with whom the commission 

enters into a contract under this       
subsection1 will work in an impartial   
manner1 and may require any person who  
applies for an appointment to a staff   
position or for a vendor's contract with
 the commission to provide information  
on the person's history of political    
activity 7including donations to        
candidates1 political committees1 and   
political parties7 as a condition of the
 appointment or the contract4  7d7      
,termination  7#a7 ,in general ,the     
independent redistricting commission of 
a ,state shall terminate on the earlier 
of-- 7,a7 ,june #ad of the following    
year ending in the numeral zero2 or     
7,b7 the day on which the nonpartisan   
agency established or designated by a   
,state under section #bjd7;a7 has1 in   
accordance with section #bjb7;b77#a71   
submitted a selection pool to the       
,select ,committee on ,redistricting for
 the ,state established under section   
#bjd7;b74  7#b7 ,preservation of records
 ,the ,state shall ensure that the      

records of the independent redistricting
 commission are retained in the         
appropriate ,state archive in such      
manner as may be necessary to enable the
 ,state to respond to any civil action  
brought with respect to ,congressional  
redistricting in the ,state4  #bjb4     
,establishment of selection pool of     
individuals eligible to serve as members
 of commission  7a7 ,criteria for       
,eligibility  7#a7 ,in general ,an      
individual is eligible to serve as a    
member of an independent redistricting  
commission if the individual meets each 
of the following criteria3  7,a7 ,as of 
the date of appointment1 the individual 
is registered to vote in elections for  
,federal office held in the ,state4     
7,b7 ,during the #c-year period ending  
on the date of the individual's         
appointment1 the individual has been    
continuously registered to vote with the
 same political party1 or has not been  
registered to vote with any political   
party4  7,c7 ,the individual submits to 

the nonpartisan agency established or   
designated by a ,state under section    
#bjc1 at such time and in such form as  
the agency may require1 an application  
for inclusion in the selection pool     
under this section1 and includes with   
the application a written statement     
containing the following information and
 assurances3  7i7 ,a statement of the   
political party with which the          
individual is affiliated1 if any4  7ii7 
,an assurance that the individual shall 
commit to carrying out the individual's 
duties under this ,act in an honest1    
independent1 and impartial fashion1 and 
to upholding public confidence in the   
integrity of the redistricting process4 
7iii7 ,an assurance that1 during the    
covered periods described in paragraph  
7#c71 the individual has not taken and  
will not take any action which would    
disqualify the individual from serving  
as a member of the commission under     
paragraph 7#b74  7#b7 ,disqualifications
 ,an individual is not eligible to serve

 as a member of the commission if any of
 the following applies during any of the
 covered periods described in paragraph 
7#c73  7,a7 ,the individual or 7in the  
case of the covered periods described in
 subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of         
paragraph 7#c77 an immediate family     
member of the individual holds public   
office or is a candidate for election   
for public office4  7,b7 ,the individual
 or 7in the case of the covered periods 
described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7
 of paragraph 7#c77 an immediate family 
member of the individual serves as an   
officer of a political party or as an   
officer1 employee1 or paid consultant of
 a campaign committee of a candidate for
 public office4  7,c7 ,the individual or
 7in the case of the covered periods    
described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7
 of paragraph 7#c77 an immediate family 
member of the individual holds a        
position as a registered lobbyist under 
the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 
7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq47 or an      

equivalent ,state or local law4  7,d7   
,the individual or 7in the case of the  
covered periods described in            
subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of paragraph
 7#c77 an immediate family member of the
 individual is an employee of an elected
 public official1 a contractor with the 
legislature of the ,state1 or a donor to
 the campaign of any candidate for      
public office 7other than a donor who1  
during any of such covered periods1     
gives an aggregate amount of #bj1jjj or 
less to the campaigns of all candidates 
for all public offices74  7#c7 ,covered 
periods described ,in this subsection1  
the term covered period means1 with     
respect to the appointment of an        
individual to the commission1 any of the
 following3 7,a7 ,the #e-year period    
ending on the date of the individual's  
appointment4  7,b7 ,the period beginning
 on the date of the individual's        
appointment and ending on ,august #ad of
 the next year ending in the numeral    
one4  7,c7 ,the #e-year period beginning

 on the day after the last day of the   
period described in subparagraph 7,b74  
7#d7 ,immediate family member defined   
,in this subsection1 the term immediate 
family member means1 with respect to an 
individual1 a father1 stepfather1       
mother1 stepmother1 son1 stepson1       
daughter1 stepdaughter1 brother1        
stepbrother1 sister1 stepsister1        
husband1 wife1 father-in-law1 or        
mother-in-law4  7b7 ,development and    
,submission of ,selection ,pool  7#a7   
,in general ,not later than ,june #ae of
 each year ending in the numeral zero1  
the nonpartisan agency established or   
designated by a ,state under section    
#bjd7;a7 shall develop and submit to the
 ,select ,committee on ,redistricting   
for the ,state established under section
 #bjd7;b7 a selection pool of #cf       
individuals who are eligible to serve as
 members of the independent             
redistricting commission of the ,state  
under this ,act1 consisting of          
individuals in the following categories3

  7,a7 ,a majority category1 consisting 
of #ab individuals who are affiliated   
with the political party with the       
largest percentage of the registered    
voters in the ,state who are affiliated 
with a political party 7as determined   
with respect to the most recent         
,statewide election for ,federal office 
held in the ,state for which such       
information is available74  7,b7 ,a     
minority category1 consisting of #ab    
individuals who are affiliated with the 
political party with the second largest 
percentage of the registered voters in  
the ,state who are affiliated with a    
political party 7as so determined74     
7,c7 ,an independent category1          
consisting of #ab individuals who are   
not affiliated with either of the       
political parties described in          
subparagraph 7,a7 or subparagraph 7,b74 
7#b7 ,factors taken into account in     
developing pool ,in selecting           
individuals for the selection pool under
 this subsection1 the nonpartisan agency

 shall--  7,a7 to the maximum extent    
practicable1 ensure that the pool       
reflects the representative demographic 
groups 7including races1 ethnicities1   
and genders7 and geographic regions of  
the ,state2 and  7,b7 take into         
consideration the analytical skills of  
the individuals selected in relevant    
fields 7including mapping1 data         
management1 law1 community outreach1    
demography1 and the geography of the    
,state7 and their ability to work on an 
impartial basis4  7#c7 ,determination of
 political party affiliation of         
individuals in selection pool ,for      
purposes of this section1 an individual 
shall be considered to be affiliated    
with a political party on the basis of  
the information the individual provides 
in the application submitted under      
subsection 7a77#a77;,d74  7#d7          
,encouraging residents to apply for     
inclusion in pool ,the nonpartisan      
agency shall take such steps as may be  
necessary to ensure that residents of   

the ,state across various geographic    
regions and demographic groups are aware
 of the opportunity to serve on the     
independent redistricting commission1   
including publicizing the role of the   
panel and using newspapers1 broadcast   
media1 and online sources1 including    
ethnic media1 to encourage individuals  
to apply for inclusion in the selection 
pool developed under this subsection4   
7#e7 ,report on establishment of        
selection pool ,at the time the         
nonpartisan agency submits the selection
 pool to the ,select ,committee on      
,redistricting under paragraph 7#a71 it 
shall publish a report describing the   
process by which the pool was developed1
 and shall include in the report a      
description of how the individuals in   
the pool meet the eligibility criteria  
of subsection 7a7 and of how the pool   
reflects the factors the agency is      
required to take into consideration     
under paragraph 7#b74  7#f7 ,action by  
,select ,committee  7,a7 ,in general    

,not later than #ad days after receiving
 the selection pool from the nonpartisan
 agency under paragraph 7#a71 the       
,select ,committee on ,redistricting    
shall--  7i7 approve the pool as        
submitted by the nonpartisan agency1 in 
which case the pool shall be considered 
the approved selection pool for purposes
 of section #bja7;a77#a72 or  7ii7      
reject the pool1 in which case the      
nonpartisan agency shall develop and    
submit a replacement selection pool in  
accordance with subsection 7c74  7,b7   
,inaction deemed rejection ,if the      
,select ,committee on ,redistricting    
fails to approve or reject the pool     
within the deadline set forth in        
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,select          
,committee shall be deemed to have      
rejected the pool for purposes of such  
subparagraph4  7c7 ,development of      
,replacement ,selection ,pool  7#a7 ,in 
general ,if the ,select ,committee on   
,redistricting rejects the selection    
pool submitted by the nonpartisan agency

 under subsection 7b71 not later than   
#ad days after the rejection1 the       
nonpartisan agency shall develop and    
submit to the ,select ,committee a      
replacement selection pool1 under the   
same terms and conditions that applied  
to the development and submission of the
 selection pool under paragraphs 7#a7   
through 7#e7 of subsection 7b74 ,the    
replacement pool submitted under this   
paragraph may include individuals who   
were included in the rejected selection 
pool submitted under subsection 7b71 so 
long as at least one of the individuals 
in the replacement pool was not included
 in such rejected pool4  7#b7 ,action by
 ,select ,committee  7,a7 ,in general   
,not later than #ad days after receiving
 the replacement selection pool from the
 nonpartisan agency under paragraph     
7#a71 the ,select ,committee on         
,redistricting shall--  7i7 approve the 
pool as submitted by the nonpartisan    
agency1 in which case the pool shall be 
considered the approved selection pool  

for purposes of section #bja7;a77#a72 or
  7ii7 reject the pool1 in which case   
the nonpartisan agency shall develop and
 submit a second replacement selection  
pool in accordance with subsection 7d74 
7,b7 ,inaction deemed rejection ,if the 
,select ,committee on ,redistricting    
fails to approve or reject the pool     
within the deadline set forth in        
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,select          
,committee shall be deemed to have      
rejected the pool for purposes of such  
subparagraph4  7d7 ,development of      
,second ,replacement ,selection ,pool   
7#a7 ,in general ,if the ,select        
,committee on ,redistricting rejects the
 replacement selection pool submitted by
 the nonpartisan agency under subsection
 7c71 not later than #ad days after the 
rejection1 the nonpartisan agency shall 
develop and submit to the ,select       
,committee a second replacement         
selection pool1 under the same terms and
 conditions that applied to the         
development and submission of the       

selection pool under paragraphs 7#a7    
through 7#e7 of subsection 7b74 ,the    
second replacement selection pool       
submitted under this paragraph may      
include individuals who were included in
 the rejected selection pool submitted  
under subsection 7b7 or the rejected    
replacement selection pool submitted    
under subsection 7c71 so long as at     
least one of the individuals in the     
replacement pool was not included in    
either such rejected pool4  7#b7 ,action
 by ,select ,committee  7,a7 ,in general
 ,not later than #ad days after         
receiving the second replacement        
selection pool from the nonpartisan     
agency under paragraph 7#a71 the ,select
 ,committee on ,redistricting shall--   
7i7 approve the pool as submitted by the
 nonpartisan agency1 in which case the  
pool shall be considered the approved   
selection pool for purposes of section  
#bja7;a77#a72 or  7ii7 reject the pool1 
in which case-- 7,i7 the nonpartisan    
agency shall not develop or submit any  

other selection pool for purposes of    
this ,act2 and  7,,ii7 the ,united      
,states ,district ,court for the        
,district of ,columbia shall develop and
 enact the redistricting plan for the   
,state1 in accordance with section #cja4
  7,b7 ,inaction deemed rejection ,if   
the ,select ,committee on ,redistricting
 fails to approve or reject the pool    
within the deadline set forth in        
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,select          
,committee shall be deemed to have      
rejected the pool for purposes of such  
subparagraph4  #bjc4 ,criteria for      
redistricting plan by independent       
commission2 public notice and input  7a7
 ,development of redistricting plan     
7#a7 ,criteria ,the independent         
redistricting commission of a ,state    
shall develop a redistricting plan for  
the ,state in accordance with the       
following criteria1 prioritized         
according to the following order3  7,a7 
,districts shall each have equal        
population per representative as nearly 

as practicable1 in accordance with the  
,constitution of the ,united ,states4   
7,b7 ,to the extent not inconsistent    
with the above criteria1 districts shall
 comply with the ,voting ,rights ,act of
 #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcja et seq474  
7,c7 ,to the extent not inconsistent    
with the above criteria1 districts shall
 be geographically contiguous4  7,d7 ,to
 the extent practicable and not         
inconsistent with the above criteria1   
district boundaries shall minimize the  
division of any community of interest1  
municipality1 county1 or neighborhood4  
,for purposes of this subparagraph1 a   
community of interest is a contiguous   
population which shares common social or
 economic interests that should be      
included within a single district for   
purposes of its effective and fair      
representation4 ,examples of such shared
 interests are those common to an urban 
area1 a rural area1 an industrial area1 
or an agricultural area1 and those      
common to areas in which the people     

share similar living standards1 use the 
same transportation facilities1 have    
similar work opportunities1 or have     
access to the same media of             
communication relevant to the election  
process4 ,communities of interest shall 
not include relationships with political
 parties1 incumbent officeholders1 or   
political candidates4  7,e7 ,to the     
extent practicable and not inconsistent 
with the above criteria1 districts shall
 be geographically compact such that    
nearby areas of population are not      
bypassed for more distant areas of      
population4  7#b7 ,factors prohibited   
from consideration ,in developing the   
redistricting plan for the ,state1 the  
independent redistricting commission may
 not take into consideration any of the 
following factors1 except to the extent 
necessary to comply with the ,voting    
,rights ,act of #aife3  7,a7 ,the       
political party affiliation or voting   
history of the population of a district4
  7,b7 ,the residence of any ,member of 

the ,house of ,representatives or       
candidate4  7b7 ,public notice and input
  7#a7 ,use of open and transparent     
process ,the independent redistricting  
commission of a ,state shall hold each  
of its meetings in public1 shall solicit
 and take into consideration comments   
from the public throughout the process  
of developing the redistricting plan for
 the ,state1 and shall carry out its    
duties in an open and transparent manner
 which provides for the widest public   
dissemination reasonably possible of its
 proposed and final redistricting plans4
  7#b7 ,website ,the commission shall   
maintain a public ,internet site which  
is not affiliated with or maintained by 
the office of any elected official and  
which includes the following features3  
7,a7 ,general information on the        
commission and its members1 including   
contact information4  7,b7 ,an updated  
schedule of commission hearings and     
activities1 including deadlines for the 
submission of comments4  7,c7 ,all draft

 redistricting plans developed by the   
commission under subsection 7c7 and the 
final redistricting plan developed under
 subsection 7d74  7,d7 ,live streaming  
of commission hearings and an archive of
 previous meetings and other commission 
records4  7,e7 ,a method by which       
members of the public may submit        
comments directly to the commission4    
7,f7 ,access to the demographic data    
used by the commission to develop the   
proposed redistricting plans1 together  
with any software used to draw maps of  
proposed districts4  7#c7 ,public       
comment period ,the commission shall    
solicit1 accept1 and consider comments  
from the public with respect to its     
duties1 activities1 and procedures at   
any time during the period--  7,a7 which
 begins on ,january #a of the year      
ending in the numeral one2 and  7,b7    
which ends #g days before the date of   
the meeting at which the commission     
shall vote on approving the final       
redistricting plan for enactment into   

law under subsection 7d77#b74  7#d7     
,meetings and hearings in various       
geographic locations ,to the greatest   
extent practicable1 the commission shall
 hold its meetings and hearings in      
various geographic regions and locations
 throughout the ,state4  7c7            
,development and ,publication of        
,preliminary ,redistricting ,plan  7#a7 
,in general ,prior to developing and    
publishing a final redistricting plan   
under subsection 7d71 the independent   
redistricting commission of a ,state    
shall develop and publish a preliminary 
redistricting plan4  7#b7 ,minimum      
public hearings prior to development    
7,a7 #c hearings required ,prior to     
developing a preliminary redistricting  
plan under this subsection1 the         
commission shall hold not fewer than #c 
public hearings at which members of the 
public may provide input and comments   
regarding the potential contents of     
redistricting plans for the ,state and  
the process by which the commission will

 develop the preliminary plan under this
 subsection4  7,b7 ,minimum period for  
notice prior to hearings ,the commission
 shall notify the public through the    
website maintained under subsection     
7b77#b71 as well as through publication 
of notice in newspapers of general      
circulation throughout the ,state1 of   
the date1 time1 and location of each of 
the hearings held under this paragraph  
not fewer than #ad days prior to the    
date of the hearing4  7#c7 ,publication 
of preliminary plan  7,a7 ,in general   
,the commission shall post the          
preliminary redistricting plan developed
 under this subsection1 together with a 
report that includes the commission's   
responses to any public comments        
received under subsection 7b77#c71 on   
the website maintained under subsection 
7b77#b71 and shall provide for the      
publication of each such plan in        
newspapers of general circulation       
throughout the ,state4  7,b7 ,minimum   
period for notice prior to publication  

,not fewer than #ad days prior to the   
date on which the commission posts and  
publishes the preliminary plan under    
this paragraph1 the commission shall    
notify the public through the website   
maintained under subsection 7b77#b71 as 
well as through publication of notice in
 newspapers of general circulation      
throughout the ,state1 of the pending   
publication of the plan4  7#d7 ,minimum 
period for public comment after         
publication of plan ,the commission     
shall accept and consider comments from 
the public with respect to the          
preliminary redistricting plan published
 under paragraph 7#c7 for not fewer than
 #cj days after the date on which the   
plan is published4  7#e7                
,post-publication hearings  7,a7 #c     
hearings required ,after posting and    
publishing the preliminary redistricting
 plan under paragraph 7#c71 the         
commission shall hold not fewer than #c 
public hearings at which members of the 
public may provide input and comments   

regarding the preliminary plan4  7,b7   
,minimum period for notice prior to     
hearings ,the commission shall notify   
the public through the website          
maintained under subsection 7b77#b71 as 
well as through publication of notice in
 newspapers of general circulation      
throughout the ,state1 of the date1     
time1 and location of each of the       
hearings held under this paragraph not  
fewer than #ad days prior to the date of
 the hearing4  7#f7 ,permitting multiple
 preliminary plans ,at the option of the
 commission1 after developing and       
publishing the preliminary redistricting
 plan under this subsection1 the        
commission may develop and publish      
subsequent preliminary redistricting    
plans1 so long as the process for the   
development and publication of each such
 subsequent plan meets the requirements 
set forth in this subsection for the    
development and publication of the first
 preliminary redistricting plan4  7d7   
,process for ,enactment of ,final       

,redistricting ,plan  7#a7 ,in general  
,after taking into consideration        
comments from the public on any         
preliminary redistricting plan developed
 and published under subsection 7c71 the
 independent redistricting commission of
 a ,state shall develop and publish a   
final redistricting plan for the ,state4
  7#b7 ,meeting2 final vote ,not later  
than ,august #ae of each year ending in 
the numeral one1 the commission shall   
hold a public hearing at which the      
members of the commission shall vote on 
approving the final plan for enactment  
into law4  7#c7 ,publication of plan and
 accompanying materials ,not fewer than 
#ad days before the date of the meeting 
under paragraph 7#b71 the commission    
shall provide the following information 
to the public through the website       
maintained under subsection 7b77#b71 as 
well as through newspapers of general   
circulation throughout the ,state3  7,a7
 ,the final redistricting plan1         
including all relevant maps4  7,b7 ,a   

report by the commission to accompany   
the plan which provides the background  
for the plan and the commission's       
reasons for selecting the plan as the   
final redistricting plan1 including     
responses to the public comments        
received on any preliminary             
redistricting plan developed and        
published under subsection 7c74  7,c7   
,any dissenting or additional views with
 respect to the plan of individual      
members of the commission4  7#d7        
,enactment ,the final redistricting plan
 developed and published under this     
subsection shall be deemed to be enacted
 into law if--  7,a7 the plan is        
approved by a majority of the whole     
membership of the commission2 and  7,b7 
at least one member of the commission   
appointed from each of the categories of
 the approved selection pool described  
in section #bjb7;b77#a7 approves the    
plan4  7e7 ,deadline ,the independent   
redistricting commission of a ,state    
shall approve a final redistricting plan

 for the ,state not later than ,august  
#ae of each year ending in the numeral  
one4  #bjd4 ,establishment of related   
entities  7a7 ,establishment or         
,designation of ,nonpartisan ,agency of 
,state ,legislature  7#a7 ,in general   
,each ,state shall establish a          
nonpartisan agency in the legislative   
branch of the ,state government to      
appoint the members of the independent  
redistricting commission for the ,state 
in accordance with section #bja4  7#b7  
,nonpartisanship described ,for purposes
 of this subsection1 an agency shall be 
considered to be nonpartisan if under   
law the agency--  7,a7 is required to   
provide services on a nonpartisan basis2
  7,b7 is required to maintain          
impartiality2 and  7,c7 is prohibited   
from advocating for the adoption or     
rejection of any legislative proposal4  
7#c7 ,designation of existing agency ,at
 its option1 a ,state may designate an  
existing agency in the legislative      
branch of its government to appoint the 

members of the independent redistricting
 commission plan for the ,state under   
this ,act1 so long as the agency meets  
the requirements for nonpartisanship    
under this subsection4  7#d7            
,termination of agency specifically     
established for redistricting ,if a     
,state does not designate an existing   
agency under paragraph 7#c7 but instead 
establishes a new agency to serve as the
 nonpartisan agency under this section1 
the new agency shall terminate upon the 
enactment into law of the redistricting 
plan for the ,state4  7#e7 ,deadline    
,the ,state shall meet the requirements 
of this subsection not later than each  
,august #ae of a year ending in the     
numeral nine4  7b7 ,establishment of    
,select ,committee on ,redistricting    
7#a7 ,in general ,each ,state shall     
appoint a ,select ,committee on         
,redistricting to approve or disapprove 
a selection pool developed by the       
independent redistricting commission for
 the ,state under section #bjb4  7#b7   

,appointment ,the ,select ,committee on 
,redistricting for a ,state under this  
subsection shall consist of the         
following members3  7,a7 #a member of   
the upper house of the ,state           
legislature1 who shall be appointed by  
the leader of the party with the        
greatest number of seats in the upper   
house4  7,b7 #a member of the upper     
house of the ,state legislature1 who    
shall be appointed by the leader of the 
party with the second greatest number of
 seats in the upper house4  7,c7 #a     
member of the lower house of the ,state 
legislature1 who shall be appointed by  
the leader of the party with the        
greatest number of seats in the lower   
house4  7,d7 #a member of the lower     
house of the ,state legislature1 who    
shall be appointed by the leader of the 
party with the second greatest number of
 seats in the lower house4  7#c7        
,special rule for ,states with          
unicameral legislature ,in the case of a
 ,state with a unicameral legislature1  

the ,select ,committee on ,redistricting
 for the ,state under this subsection   
shall consist of the following members3 
7,a7 #b members of the ,state           
legislature appointed by the leader of  
the party with the greatest number of   
seats in the legislature4  7,b7 #b      
members of the ,state legislature       
appointed by the leader of the party    
with the second greatest number of seats
 in legislature4  7#d7 ,deadline ,the   
,state shall meet the requirements of   
this subsection not later than each     
,january #ae of a year ending in the    
numeral zero4  ,,iii ,role of ,courts in
 ,development of ,redistricting ,plans  
#cja4 ,enactment of plan developed by   
#c-;judge court  7a7 ,development of    
,plan ,if any of the triggering events  
described in subsection 7c7 occur with  
respect to a ,state-- 7#a7 not later    
than ,december #ae of the year in which 
the triggering event occurs1 the ,united
 ,states ,district ,court for the       
,district of ,columbia1 acting through a

 #c-;judge court convened pursuant to   
section #bbhd of title #bh1 ,united     
,states ,code1 shall develop and publish
 the ,congressional redistricting plan  
for the ,state2 and  7#b7 the plan      
developed and published by the ,court   
under this subsection shall be deemed to
 be enacted on the date on which the    
,court publishes the plan4  7b7         
,procedures for ,development of ,plan   
7#a7 ,criteria ,it is the sense of      
,congress that1 in developing a         
redistricting plan for a ,state under   
this section1 the ,court should adhere  
to the same terms and conditions that   
applied 7or that would have applied1 as 
the case may be7 to the development of a
 plan by the independent redistricting  
commission of the ,state under section  
#bjc7;a74  7#b7 ,access to information  
and records of commission ,the ,court   
shall have access to any information1   
data1 software1 or other records and    
material that was used 7or that would   
have been used1 as the case may be7 by  

the independent redistricting commission
 of the ,state in carrying out its      
duties under this ,act4  7c7 ,triggering
 ,events ,described ,the triggering     
events described in this subsection are 
as follows3 7#a7 ,the failure of the    
,state to establish or designate a      
nonpartisan agency of the ,state        
legislature under section #bjd7;a7 prior
 to the expiration of the deadline set  
forth in section #bjd7;a77#e74  7#b7    
,the failure of the ,state to appoint a 
,select ,committee on ,redistricting    
under section #bjd7;b7 prior to the     
expiration of the deadline set forth in 
section #bjd7;b77#d74  7#c7 ,the failure
 of the ,select ,committee on           
,redistricting to approve any selection 
pool under section #bjb prior to the    
expiration of the deadline set forth for
 the approval of the second replacement 
selection pool in section #bjb7;d77#b74 
7#d7 ,the failure of the independent    
redistricting commission of the ,state  
to approve a final redistricting plan   

for the ,state prior to the expiration  
of the deadline set forth in section    
#bjc7;e74  #cjb4 ,special rule for      
redistricting conducted under order of  
,federal court ,if a ,federal court     
requires a ,state to conduct            
redistricting subsequent to an          
apportionment of ,representatives in the
 ,state in order to comply with the     
,constitution or to enforce the ,voting 
,rights ,act of #aife1 section #bjc     
shall apply with respect to the         
redistricting1 except that the court may
 revise any of the deadlines set forth  
in such section if the court determines 
that a revision is appropriate in order 
to provide for a timely enactment of a  
new redistricting plan for the ,state4  
,,iv ,administrative and ,miscellaneous 
,provisions  #dja4 ,payments to ,states 
for carrying out redistricting  7a7     
,authorization of payments ,subject to  
subsection 7d71 not later than #cj days 
after a ,state receives a ,state        
apportionment notice1 the ,election     

,assistance ,commission shall make a    
payment to the ,state in an amount equal
 to the product of--  7#a7 the number of
 ,representatives to which the ,state is
 entitled1 as provided under the notice2
 and  7#b7 #aej1jjj4  7b7 ,use of funds 
,a ,state shall use the payment made    
under this section to establish and     
operate the ,state's independent        
redistricting commission1 to implement  
the ,state redistricting plan1 and to   
otherwise carry out ,congressional      
redistricting in the ,state4  7c7 ,no   
payment to states with single member    
,the ,election ,assistance ,commission  
shall not make a payment under this     
section to any ,state which is not      
entitled to more than one               
,representative under its ,state        
apportionment notice4  7d7 ,requiring   
,submission of ,selection ,pool as      
,condition of ,payment ,the ,election   
,assistance ,commission may not make a  
payment to a ,state under this section  
until the ,state certifies to the       

,commission that the nonpartisan agency 
established or designated by a ,state   
under section #bjd7;a7 has1 in          
accordance with section #bjb7;b77#a71   
submitted a selection pool to the       
,select ,committee on ,redistricting for
 the ,state established under section   
#bjd7;b74  7e7 ,authorization of        
appropriations ,there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be     
necessary for payments under this       
section4  #djb4 ,civil enforcement  7a7 
,civil ,enforcement  7#a7 ,actions by   
,attorney ,general ,the ,attorney       
,general may bring a civil action in an 
appropriate district court for such     
relief as may be appropriate to carry   
out this ,act4  7#b7 ,availability of   
private right of action ,any citizen of 
a ,state who is aggrieved by the failure
 of the ,state redistricting plan which 
is enacted into law under section #bjc  
to meet the requirements for such a plan
 under this ,act may bring a civil      
action in an appropriate district court 

for such relief as may be appropriate to
 remedy the failure1 so long as the     
individual brings the action during the 
#de-;day period which begins on the date
 on which the plan is enacted into law4 
7b7 ,expedited ,consideration ,in any   
action brought forth under this section1
 the following rules shall apply3 7#a7  
,the action shall be filed in the       
,united ,states ,district ,court for the
 ,district of ,columbia and shall be    
heard by a #c-;judge court convened     
pursuant to section #bbhd of title #bh1 
,united ,states ,code4  7#b7 ,the       
#c-;judge court shall consolidate       
actions brought for relief under        
subsection 7b77#a7 with respect to the  
same ,state redistricting plan4  7#c7 ,a
 copy of the complaint shall be         
delivered promptly to the ,clerk of the 
,house of ,representatives and the      
,secretary of the ,senate4  7#d7 ,a     
final decision in the action shall be   
reviewable only by appeal directly to   
the ,supreme ,court of the ,united      

,states4 ,such appeal shall be taken by 
the filing of a notice of appeal within 
#aj days1 and the filing of a           
jurisdictional statement within #cj     
days1 of the entry of the final         
decision4  7#e7 ,it shall be the duty of
 the district court and the ,supreme    
,court of the ,united ,states to advance
 on the docket and to expedite to the   
greatest possible extent the disposition
 of the action and appeal4  7c7         
,attorney's ,fees ,in a civil action    
under this section1 the court may allow 
the prevailing party 7other than the    
,united ,states7 reasonable attorney    
fees1 including litigation expenses1 and
 costs4  7d7 ,relation to ,other ,laws  
7#a7 ,rights and remedies additional to 
other rights and remedies ,the rights   
and remedies established by this section
 are in addition to all other rights and
 remedies provided by law1 and neither  
the rights and remedies established by  
this section nor any other provision of 
this ,act shall supersede1 restrict1 or 

limit the application of the ,voting    
,rights ,act of #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4    
#ajcja et seq474  7#b7 ,voting ,rights  
,act of #aife ,nothing in this ,act     
authorizes or requires conduct that is  
prohibited by the ,voting ,rights ,act  
of #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcja et seq474
  #djc4 ,state apportionment notice     
defined ,in this ,act1 the ,state       
apportionment notice means1 with respect
 to a ,state1 the notice sent to the    
,state from the ,clerk of the ,house of 
,representatives under section #bb7;b7  
of the ,act entitled ,an ,act to provide
 for the fifteenth and subsequent       
decennial censuses and to provide for an
 apportionment of ,representatives in   
,congress1 approved ,june #ah1 #aibi 7#b
 ,u4,s4,c4 #b;a71 of the number of      
,representatives to which the ,state is 
entitled4  #djd4 ,no effect on elections
 for ,state and local office ,nothing in
 this ,act or in any amendment made by  
this ,act may be construed to affect the
 manner in which a ,state carries out   

elections for ,state or local office1   
including the process by which a ,state 
establishes the districts used in such  
elections4  #dje4 ,effective date ,this 
,act and the amendments made by this    
,act shall apply with respect to        
redistricting carried out pursuant to   
the decennial census conducted during   
#bjbj or any succeeding decennial       
census4