Sec. 5101. Establishment of pilot program

422 words·~2 min read·/bill/116/hr/1/ih/section-5101

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

The Federal Election Commission (hereafter in this part referred to as the Commission ) shall establish a pilot program under which the Commission shall select 3 eligible States to operate a voucher pilot program which is described in section 5102 during the program operation period. A State is eligible to be selected to operate a voucher pilot program under this part if, not later than 180 days after the beginning of the program application period, the State submits to the Commission an application containing— information and assurances that the State will operate a voucher program which contains the elements described in section 5102(a); information and assurances that the State will establish fraud prevention mechanisms described in section 5102(b); information and assurances that the State will establish a commission to oversee and implement the program as described in section 5102(c); information and assurances that the State will carry out a public information campaign as described in section 5102(d); information and assurances that the State will submit reports as required under section 5103; and such other information and assurances as the Commission may require.

Not later than 1 year after the beginning of the program application period, the Commission shall select the 3 States which will operate voucher pilot programs under this part. In selecting States for the operation of the voucher pilot programs under this part, the Commission shall apply such criteria and metrics as the Commission considers appropriate to determine the ability of a State to operate the program successfully, and shall attempt to select States in a variety of geographic regions and with a variety of political party preferences.

The selection of States by the Commission under this subsection shall require the approval of only half of the Members of the Commission. During the program preparation period, each State selected to operate a voucher pilot program under this part shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the State will be ready to operate the program during the program operation period, and shall complete such actions not later than 90 days before the beginning of the program operation period.

Each voucher pilot program under this part shall terminate as of the first day after the program operation period. Upon receiving the report submitted by a State under section 5103(a) with respect to an election cycle, the Commission shall transmit a payment to the State in an amount equal to the reasonable costs incurred by the State in operating the voucher pilot program under this part during the cycle.