PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 268
PRINTER'S NO. 938
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
222
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, COSTA, SCHWANK, CAPPELLETTI, COMITTA,
KANE, KEARNEY, MARTIN, TOMLINSON, YUDICHAK, SANTARSIERO,
HUTCHINSON, COLLETT, MUTH, BARTOLOTTA, HAYWOOD, FONTANA,
VOGEL, STREET, SAVAL, L. WILLIAMS, BROWNE, A. WILLIAMS,
BREWSTER, TARTAGLIONE AND ARGALL, FEBRUARY 26, 2021
SENATOR ARGALL, STATE GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, JUNE 22, 2021
AN ACT
Providing for legislative and congressional redistricting;
imposing duties on the Legislative Data Processing Committee;
and providing for redistricting criteria.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
Section 101. Short title.
Section 102. Definitions.
Section 103. Legislative Data Processing Committee
responsibilities.
Section 104. Transparency.
Chapter 3. Legislative Reapportionment Commission
Section 301. Chair.
Chapter 5. Legislative Redistricting Plans
Section 501. Process.
Section 502. Contents of plans.
Section 503. Redistricting criteria.
Section 504. Political discrimination.
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Chapter 7. Congressional Redistricting Plans
Section 701. Form of plans.
Section 702. Congressional redistricting process.
Section 703. Redistricting criteria.
Section 704. Political discrimination.
Chapter 9. Data Transparency
Section 901. Dissemination of information to public.
Section 902. Redistricting data.
Section 903. Timing.
Chapter 21. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 2101. Effective date.
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT AND REAPPORTIONMENT
CRITERIA.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
CHAPTER 1
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Legislative
and Congressional Redistricting Act.
Section 102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commission." The Legislative Reapportionment Commission
authorized by section 17 of Article II of the Constitution of
Pennsylvania to adopt a legislative redistricting plan.
"Committee" or "committees." The Committee on State
Government of the Senate and the Committee on State Government
of the House of Representatives or their successor committees.
"Community of interest." A neighborhood or geographically
20210SB0222PN0938 - 2 -
<--
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
confined area of persons who share similar social, cultural and
economic interests or other shared interests that may be subject
to legislative action. A community's shared interest does not
include a shared relationship with a political party, incumbent
or political candidate.
"Congressional redistricting plan." A redistricting plan for
congressional districts drawn under the requirements of this
act.
"Federal census." The decennial census required by Federal
law to be conducted by the United States Bureau of the Census in
every year ending in zero.
"LDPC." The Legislative Data Processing Committee created by
section 1(a) of the act of December 10, 1968 (P.L.1158, No.365),
entitled "An act creating and establishing the Legislative Data
Processing Committee: providing for its membership; prescribing
its powers, functions and duties; and making an appropriation."
"Legislative district." The term includes Pennsylvania's
senatorial districts and representative districts.
"Legislative redistricting plan." A plan adopted under
Article II of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and this act. The
term includes a reapportionment plan.
"Plan." A congressional redistricting plan or legislative
redistricting plan drawn under the requirements of this act.
"Political subdivision." A county, city, incorporated town,
borough, township or ward.
"Responsive." In reference to a district, that the voting
blocs are substantially and similarly able to translate their
popular support into representation in an elected body and that
such representation is substantially and similarly reflective of
shifts in the electorate's preferences.
20210SB0222PN0938 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
"Secretary." The Secretary of the Commonwealth.
"Shapefile." A simplified, nontopological format for storing
geometric location and attribute information of geographic
areas.
Section 103. Legislative Data Processing Committee
responsibilities.
Not later than 30 days after the official reporting of the
Federal census, LDPC shall:
(1) Obtain from the United States Census Bureau the
population data needed for redistricting that the United
States Census Bureau is required to provide the Commonwealth
under 13 U.S.C. § 141 (relating to population and other
census information).
(2) Use the data obtained to:
(i) Prepare necessary descriptions of census blocks,
precincts, wards, municipalities and counties for which
census data is reported and that are suitable for use as
components of legislative and congressional districts.
(ii) Assign a population figure based upon census
data to each geographic and political unit described
under subparagraph (i).
(iii) Prepare maps of census blocks, precincts,
wards, municipalities and counties within this
Commonwealth that may be used to illustrate the locations
of district boundaries proposed in plans.
Section 104. Transparency.
(a) Open meetings.--All proceedings of the commission and
committees related to legislative and congressional
redistricting under this act shall comply with 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7
(relating to open meetings). The proceedings of the commission
20210SB0222PN0938 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
or committees shall be contemporaneously broadcast on the
publicly accessible Internet website created under Chapter 9 in
a way that allows for public viewing and public interaction. To
ensure public participation, meetings and hearings shall be
widely advertised in multiple languages, where necessary, and be
held at times that allow for broad attendance.
(b) Public comments.--The commission and committees shall
develop a system for receiving written comments from the public,
including all electronic mail formats and a comment portal on
the publicly accessible Internet website created under Chapter
9. The portal shall be able to facilitate real-time public
comment during live-streamed commission and committee meetings
and hearings. The comments shall be reviewed by the commission
and committees and given consideration equal to in-person
testimony.
CHAPTER 3
LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION
Section 301. Chair.
(a) Qualifications.--The chair of the commission must be a
citizen of this Commonwealth, but not a Federal, State or local
official holding an office to which compensation is attached,
and who:
(1) Has voted in two of the last three Statewide general
elections immediately preceding the date of appointment to
the commission.
(2) Has not registered, nor has a spouse who has
registered, as a Federal or State lobbyist in this
Commonwealth in the five years immediately preceding the date
of appointment to the commission.
(3) Has not been nominated, nor has a spouse who has
20210SB0222PN0938 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
been nominated, as a candidate for elective office in this
Commonwealth by a political party or political body in the
five years immediately preceding the date of appointment to
the commission.
(4) Has not served, nor has a spouse who has served, as
a staff member or officer of a political party, political
body, political committee or political action committee in
this Commonwealth in the five years immediately preceding the
date of appointment to the commission.
(5) Has not served, nor has a spouse who has served, as
a staff member of an elected official in this Commonwealth in
the five years immediately preceding the date of appointment
to the commission.
(b) Ethical standards.--The provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 11
(relating to ethics standards and financial disclosure) shall
apply to the commission chair, who shall complete and file a
financial disclosure report prior to taking office and one year
after leaving office.
CHAPTER 5
LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING PLANS
Section 501. Process.
(a) Citizen plans.--A resident of this Commonwealth may
submit to the commission a redistricting plan for any or all
legislative districts or parts of districts.
(b) Preliminary plan.--
(1) Prior to the date that a preliminary plan is filed
with the secretary, the commission shall schedule and conduct
at least four public hearings in different regions of this
Commonwealth.
(2) Upon completion of the public hearings, the
20210SB0222PN0938 - 6 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
commission shall approve a preliminary plan at a public
meeting. The commission shall give at least seven days'
notice to the public prior to the meeting the commission
approves the preliminary plan.
(3) The commission shall file the approved preliminary
plan with the secretary.
(4) Records pertaining to the commission's action on a
preliminary plan shall be disclosed on the publicly
accessible Internet website created under Chapter 9 as soon
as practicable after adoption.
(5) A person aggrieved by the preliminary plan may file
exceptions no later than 15 days after adoption.
(6) If a person files a timely exception to the plan,
the commission shall schedule and conduct at least two public
hearings to hear testimony regarding the exception.
(c) Final plan.--The commission shall approve a final plan
at a public meeting. The commission shall give at least seven
days' notice to the public prior to the meeting the commission
approves the final plan.
(d) Publication.--The commission shall publish the proposed
final plan on the publicly accessible Internet website created
under Chapter 9 for at least seven days prior to the meeting the
final plan is approved.
(e) Filing.--Upon approval the final plan shall be filed
with the secretary.
Section 502. Contents of plans.
A legislative redistricting plan shall include the following:
(1) The senatorial and representative districts
authorized by the Constitution of Pennsylvania and the
political subdivisions, or parts of political subdivisions,
20210SB0222PN0938 - 7 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
to be included within each district.
(2) Maps depicting the division of this Commonwealth
into senatorial and representative districts and all
political subdivisions, or parts of political subdivisions,
to be included within each district.
(3) The underlying data used to create or evaluate maps
in a format easily usable for analysis.
(4) Precinct-level shapefiles and census block
equivalency files.
(5) An explanation of the necessity for each division of
a political subdivision.
(6) An explanation of how each district map complies
with the criteria described in section 503 and this section
and responses to public comment.
Section 503. Redistricting criteria.
(a) General rule.--In addition to the requirements of
section 16 of Article II of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and
Federal law, the following shall apply to the drawing of
legislative district lines:
(1) Districts shall provide racial and language
minorities with an equal opportunity to participate in the
political process and may not dilute or diminish their
ability to elect candidates of choice by themselves or in
coalition with others.
(2) A county may not contain more senatorial districts
than the number required by the population plus one.
(3) A county may not contain more representative
districts than the number required by the population plus
two.
(4) A redistricting plan shall not divide precincts.
20210SB0222PN0938 - 8 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(b) Plan priorities.--To the extent possible and in
compliance with subsection (a), a redistricting plan shall
include the following in order of priority:
(1) Keep communities of interest intact.
(2) Be responsive, as measured by one or more widely
accepted measures of responsiveness.
(3) Conform district boundaries to natural boundaries
existing in the physical geography of an area.
Section 504. Political discrimination.
A legislative redistricting plan shall not purposefully or
unduly favor or disfavor an incumbent elected official,
candidate or prospective candidate for elective office. A
redistricting plan on a Statewide basis shall not purposefully
or unduly favor or disfavor a political party.
CHAPTER 7
CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING PLANS
Section 701. Form of plans.
A congressional redistricting plan shall be in the form of a
bill listing the congressional districts allocated to the
Commonwealth and the political subdivisions, or parts of
political subdivisions, to be included within each district.
Section 702. Congressional redistricting process.
(a) Citizen plans.--A resident of this Commonwealth may
submit to the committees a congressional redistricting plan for
any or all congressional districts or parts of districts for
consideration.
(b) Preliminary hearings.--No later than 60 days after the
official reporting of the Federal census, the committees shall
conduct at least four public hearings in different regions of
this Commonwealth to receive testimony on redistricting of the
20210SB0222PN0938 - 9 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Commonwealth's congressional districts. The committees may
convene as a joint committee for this purpose or may agree to
divide the hearings as they deem advisable.
(c) Preliminary committee plans.--Upon completion of the
hearings required under subsection (b), either committee may
approve a preliminary congressional redistricting plan with not
less than seven days' prior notice to the public. The plan shall
be available on the publicly accessible Internet website created
under Chapter 9 for that seven-day period. A preliminary plan
shall be supplemented by the following:
(1) A map depicting the division of the Commonwealth
into congressional districts and the political subdivisions,
or parts of political subdivisions, to be included within
each district.
(2) The underlying data used to create or evaluate maps
in a format easily usable for analysis.
(3) Precinct-level shapefiles and census block
equivalency files.
(4) An explanation of the necessity for each division of
a political subdivision.
(5) An explanation of how each district map complies
with the criteria described in sections 703 and 704.
(6) The committee response to public comment.
(d) Hearings on preliminary plans.--Upon approval of a
preliminary plan, the committees shall conduct at least four
public hearings in different regions of this Commonwealth to
receive testimony on the preliminary plan.
(e) Committee action.--Upon completion of the hearings
required under subsection (d) and with no less than seven days'
prior notice to the public, the committee shall consider any
20210SB0222PN0938 - 10 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
proposed amendment to the preliminary plan and report the plan
and supplementary information for consideration by the Senate
and House of Representatives.
Section 703. Redistricting criteria.
(a) General rule.--In addition to the requirements of
Federal law, the following shall apply to the drawing of
congressional district lines:
(1) Districts shall be composed of compact and
contiguous territory and, unless absolutely necessary, no
county, city, incorporated town, borough, township or ward
shall be divided.
(2) Districts shall provide racial and language
minorities with an equal opportunity to participate in the
political process and may not dilute or diminish their
ability to elect candidates of choice by themselves or in
coalition with others.
(3) A county may not contain more congressional
districts than the number required by the population plus
one.
(4) A redistricting plan shall not divide precincts.
(b) Plan priorities.--To the extent possible and in
compliance with subsection (a), a redistricting plan shall
include the following in order of priority:
(1) Keep communities of interest intact.
(2) Be responsive, as measured by one or more widely
accepted measures of responsiveness.
(3) Conform district boundaries to natural boundaries
existing in the physical geography of an area.
Section 704. Political discrimination.
A congressional redistricting plan shall not purposefully or
20210SB0222PN0938 - 11 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
unduly favor or disfavor an incumbent elected official,
candidate or prospective candidate for elective office. A
redistricting plan on a Statewide basis shall not purposefully
or unduly favor or disfavor a political party.
CHAPTER 9
DATA TRANSPARENCY
Section 901. Dissemination of information to public.
The LDPC shall establish a publicly accessible, user-friendly
Internet website to disseminate the information and data
required by this act. All data posted to the website must be
easily available to the public free of charge.
Section 902. Redistricting data.
During the redistricting process, the LDPC shall assist the
commission and committees in collecting and posting data to the
publicly accessible Internet website required under section 901.
In addition to the data and information required by other
provisions of this act, the data shall include the following:
(1) Data intended for use in drafting a preliminary plan
or any revised plan in a format easily usable for analysis.
(2) Access to software and a portal that can be used by
any Pennsylvania resident to prepare and submit a plan.
(3) Plans submitted by residents in, at least, PDF and
shapefile formats.
(4) Adequate notice of commission and committee meetings
and public hearings.
(5) Transcripts of testimony presented at public
meetings and hearings.
(6) Written testimony.
(7) All written communications between the commission or
committees and other persons concerning a plan.
20210SB0222PN0938 - 12 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(8) Preliminary plans and final plans available in, at
least, PDF and shapefile formats.
(9) A detailed written explanation of the differences
between a preliminary plan and a final plan, how the plans
comply with criteria and how the plans incorporated public
comment and map submissions.
(10) The underlying data used to create or evaluate maps
in a format easily usable for analysis.
(11) Precinct-level shapefiles and census block
equivalency files.
(12) All reports analyzing maps.
(13) A video archive of all commission and committee
meetings and hearings.
Section 903. Timing.
All data posted on the publicly accessible Internet website
created under section 901 shall provide the public with adequate
time for review, but not longer than three days after the data's
receipt by the commission, committee or LDPC. The data shall
remain available on the website for at least 10 years following
its publication.
CHAPTER 21
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 2101. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE CONGRESSIONAL
REAPPORTIONMENT STANDARDS ACT.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ACT SHALL
HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
20210SB0222PN0938 - 13 -
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"CENSUS." THE DECENNIAL COUNT OR ENUMERATION OF THE
POPULATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 2 OF ARTICLE I OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND RELATED FEDERAL LAW
CONDUCTED EVERY 10 YEARS IN YEARS ENDING IN ZERO.
"CENSUS BLOCK." THE SMALLEST AND LOWEST LEVEL OF GEOGRAPHY
USED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU TO TABULATE POPULATION
DATA COLLECTED DURING THE CENSUS, THAT IS COMPILED WITH OTHERS
INTO BLOCK GROUPS, WHICH ARE THEN COMPILED INTO CENSUS TRACTS,
AND THAT MAY HAVE ANY POPULATION LEVEL INCLUDING ZERO.
"COMMITTEES." THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE
AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES.
"CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT." THE BOUNDARIES DEFINING THE
CONSTITUENCY FROM WHICH A MEMBER OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES IS ELECTED.
"CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN." A PROPOSAL TO
ESTABLISH ELECTION BOUNDARIES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
PREPARED UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT. THE TERM INCLUDES A
REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN.
"DEVIATION." A STATISTICAL FORMULA MEASURING THE DEGREE TO
WHICH THE POPULATION OF A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VARIES FROM THE
IDEAL POPULATION OF THAT DISTRICT AS EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE.
"IDEAL POPULATION." A POPULATION FIGURE DETERMINED BY
DIVIDING THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THIS COMMONWEALTH BY THE NUMBER
OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TO BE CREATED AS DETERMINED BY THE
CENSUS.
"MUNICIPAL FRAGMENT OR ENCLAVE." A PORTION OF A POLITICAL
SUBDIVISION THAT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED FROM A CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT BECAUSE IT IS SURROUNDED ENTIRELY BY ANOTHER POLITICAL
20210SB0222PN0938 - 14 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
SUBDIVISION OR EQUIVALENT JURISDICTION.
"OVERALL RANGE." THE DIFFERENCE IN POPULATION BETWEEN THE
LARGEST AND THE SMALLEST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AS EXPRESSED AS
A PERCENTAGE THAT REFLECTS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE BETWEEN DISTRICTS.
"PLAN." A CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT PROPOSAL OFFERED
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.
"POLITICAL SUBDIVISION." A CITY, COUNTY, INCORPORATED TOWN,
BOROUGH, TOWNSHIP OR WARD WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
"REAPPORTIONMENT." THE REDRAWING OF THIS COMMONWEALTH'S
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES BASED UPON DATA FROM THE CENSUS.
THE TERM INCLUDES REDISTRICTING.
"VOTING DISTRICT." BOUNDARIES ESTABLISHED TO ADMINISTER
ELECTIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. THE TERM MAY INCLUDE AN
ELECTION DISTRICT OR PRECINCT.
SECTION 3. COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES.
NOT LONGER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE OFFICIAL REPORTING OF THE
CENSUS, THE COMMITTEES SHALL:
(1) DETERMINE THAT DATA FROM THE UNITED STATES CENSUS
BUREAU PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 13 U.S.C. § 141 (RELATING
TO POPULATION AND OTHER CENSUS INFORMATION) IS AVAILABLE AND
USEABLE.
(2) DETERMINE THE IDEAL POPULATION FOR EACH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
(3) DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON DATA TO BE
USED IN CREATING, EVALUATING OR ANALYZING MAPS OR DRAFTING
PLANS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE CENSUS BLOCK DATA, VOTING
DISTRICTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965
(PUBLIC LAW 89-110, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 ET SEQ.), AS
INTERPRETED BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
20210SB0222PN0938 - 15 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(4) DEVELOP A SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING AND PUBLICLY SHARING
WRITTEN COMMENTS AND CITIZEN CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT
PLANS.
(5) CONDUCT AT LEAST FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS TO RECEIVE
INPUT FROM FOUR DIFFERENT AND DISTINCT REGIONS OF THIS
COMMONWEALTH ON PLANS.
(6) PROVIDE WRITTEN EXPLANATIONS OF:
(I) HOW A PLAN DIVIDES CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS INTO
COMPACT AND CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY NEARLY EQUAL IN
POPULATION AS PRACTICABLE WHILE ENSURING NO DIVISION OF
ANY COUNTY, CITY, INCORPORATED TOWN, BOROUGH, TOWNSHIP OR
WARD UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 4;
(II) HOW A PLAN COMPLIES WITH SECTION 4;
(III) HOW A PLAN CONSIDERS PUBLIC COMMENTS AND
CITIZEN MAP SUBMISSIONS; AND
(IV) THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRELIMINARY PLANS AND
THE FINAL PLAN.
SECTION 4. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT STANDARDS.
(A) GENERAL RULE.--CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS SHALL BE
ESTABLISHED ON THE BASIS OF POPULATION. EACH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT SHALL HAVE A DEVIATION FROM THE IDEAL POPULATION THAT
SHALL NOT EXCEED THE OVERALL RANGE OF A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
PLAN. A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT PLAN SHALL HAVE AN OVERALL RANGE
OF 0%, EXCEPT A HIGHER RANGE SHALL BE USED TO PREVENT THE
DIVISION OF OR IN ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AS PROVIDED FOR IN
SUBSECTION (B).
(B) BOUNDARIES.--CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES SHALL
COINCIDE WITH THE BOUNDARIES OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AS
FOLLOWS:
20210SB0222PN0938 - 16 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(1) A CITY, INCORPORATED TOWN, BOROUGH OR TOWNSHIP WITH
A POPULATION LESS THAN THE IDEAL POPULATION OF A
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAY NOT BE DIVIDED.
(2) THE NUMBER OF COUNTIES AND WARDS DIVIDED TO FORM ONE
OR MORE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS SHALL BE THE MINIMUM NUMBER
NECESSARY TO NOT EXCEED THE OVERALL RANGE ESTABLISHED UNDER
SUBSECTION (A).
(3) IF A DIVISION IS NECESSITATED UNDER PARAGRAPH (2),
THE NUMBER OF DIVISIONS IN A COUNTY OR WARD TO FORM ONE OR
MORE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SHALL BE THE MINIMUM NUMBER
NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE EQUAL POPULATION UNDER SUBSECTION (A).
(4) NO VOTING PRECINCT MAY BE DIVIDED.
(5) PREFERENCE SHALL BE GIVEN TO MAINTAINING SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES BUT NOT IF DOING SO WOULD CREATE A
DIVISION TO A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.
(C) CONTIGUOUS.--THE BOUNDARIES OF EACH DISTRICT SHALL BE
DRAWN USING A SINGLE NONINTERSECTING CONTINUOUS LINE. A COUNTY
OR MUNICIPAL FRAGMENT OR ENCLAVE CONTAINING LESS THAN FIFTY
PERSONS SHALL BE CONSIDERED CONTIGUOUS TO THE DISTRICT IF THE
REMAINDER OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY IS WHOLLY WITHIN THE
SAME DISTRICT.
(D) COMPACTNESS.--THE BOUNDARIES OF EACH DISTRICT SHALL
PROVIDE FOR GEOGRAPHIC COMPACTNESS, HOWEVER, GEOGRAPHIC
COMPACTNESS SHALL NOT TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE PRECEDING
CRITERIA, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, OVERALL RANGE AND
NUMBER OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS DIVIDED.
(E) VOTING RIGHTS ACT.--NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE
CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE OR PERMIT ANY REAPPORTIONMENT POLICY OR
ACTION THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 (PUBLIC
LAW 89-110, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 ET SEQ.), AS INTERPRETED BY THE
20210SB0222PN0938 - 17 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
20210SB0222PN0938 - 18 -
1
2
3