Sec. 2451. Use of independent redistricting commissions for redistricting carried out pursuant to 2020 Census
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/bill/117/hr/1/eh/section-2451A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The nonpartisan agency established or designated by a State under section 2454(a) shall establish an independent redistricting commission under this part for the State, which shall consist of 15 members appointed by the agency as follows: Not later than August 5, 2021, the agency shall, at a public meeting held not earlier than 15 days after notice of the meeting has been given to the public, first appoint 6 members as follows: The agency shall appoint 2 members on a random basis from the majority category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 2452(b)(1)(A)).
The agency shall appoint 2 members on a random basis from the minority category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 2452(b)(1)(B)). The agency shall appoint 2 members on a random basis from the independent category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 2452(b)(1)(C)). Not later than August 15, 2021, the members appointed by the agency under subparagraph
(A)shall, at a public meeting held not earlier than 15 days after notice of the meeting has been given to the public, then appoint 9 members as follows: The members shall appoint 3 members from the majority category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 2452(b)(1)(A)). The members shall appoint 3 members from the minority category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 2452(b)(1)(B)). The members shall appoint 3 members from the independent category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 2452(b)(1)(C)). The appointment of any of the 9 members of the independent redistricting commission who are appointed by the first members of the commission pursuant to subparagraph
(B)of paragraph
(1)shall require the affirmative vote of at least 4 of the members appointed by the nonpartisan agency under subparagraph
(A)of paragraph (1), including at least one member from each of the categories referred to in such subparagraph. In appointing the 9 members pursuant to subparagraph
(B)of paragraph (1), the first members of the independent redistricting commission shall ensure that the membership is representative of the demographic groups (including racial, ethnic, economic, and gender) and geographic regions of the State, and provides racial, ethnic, and language minorities protected under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of the State’s redistricting plan. A member of the independent redistricting commission may be removed by a majority vote of the remaining members of the commission if it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the member is not eligible to serve on the commission under section 2452(a). The independent redistricting commission of a State under this part may not publish and disseminate any draft or final redistricting plan, or take any other action, without the approval of at least— a majority of the whole membership of the commission; and at least one member of the commission appointed from each of the categories of the approved selection pool described in section 2452(b)(1). A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. Under a public application process in which all application materials are available for public inspection, the independent redistricting commission of a State under this part shall appoint and set the pay of technical experts, legal counsel, consultants, and such other staff as it considers appropriate, subject to State law. The independent redistricting commission of a State may enter into such contracts with vendors as it considers appropriate, subject to State law, except that any such contract shall be valid only if approved by the vote of a majority of the members of the commission, including at least one member appointed from each of the categories of the approved selection pool described in section 2452(b)(1). The commission shall take such steps as it considers appropriate to ensure that any staff appointed under this subsection, and any vendor with whom the commission enters into a contract under this subsection, will work in an impartial manner. 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 State.