SB 1242 — An Act providing for legislative and congressional redistricting; imposing duties on the Legislative Data Processing Committee; and providing for redistricting criteria.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

1862 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

20131242 THE2020 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFKILLION PENNSYLVANIAAND SENATEBOSCOLA, BILLJULY Session27, of2020 No.REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JULY 27, 2020 AN ACT Providing for legislative and congressional redistricting;

1242 2020 INTRODUCED BY KILLION, BOSCOLA, MARTIN, DINNIMAN, KEARNEY, LAUGHLIN AND MUTH, JULY 27, 2020 SENATOR DISANTO, STATE GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 AN ACT Providing for legislative and congressional redistricting;

"Community of interest." A neighborhood or geographically confined area of persons who share similar social, cultural and economic interests or other shared interests that may be subject 20200SB1242PN2013 - 2 - to legislative action.

A community's shared interest does not 20200SB1242PN1862 - 2 - include a shared relationship with a political party, incumbent or political candidate.

"Shapefile." A simplified, nontopological format for storing 20200SB1242PN2013 - 3 - geometric location and attribute information of geographic 20200SB1242PN1862 - 3 - areas.

The proceedings of the commission or committees shall be contemporaneously broadcast on the publicly accessible Internet website created under Chapter 9 in 20200SB1242PN2013 - 4 - a way that allows for public viewing and public interaction.

To 20200SB1242PN1862 - 4 - 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.

(3) Has not been nominated, nor has a spouse who has been nominated, as a candidate for elective office in this Commonwealth by a political party or political body in the 20200SB1242PN2013 - 5 - five years immediately preceding the date of appointment to 20200SB1242PN1862 - 5 - 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.

The commission shall give at least seven days' 20200SB1242PN2013 - 6 - notice to the public prior to the meeting the commission approves the preliminary plan.

(4) Records pertaining to the commission's action on a 20200SB1242PN1862 - 6 - preliminary plan shall be disclosed on the publicly accessible Internet website created under Chapter 9 as soon as practicable after adoption.

(2) Maps depicting the division of this Commonwealth 20200SB1242PN2013 - 7 - into senatorial and representative districts and all political subdivisions, or parts of political subdivisions, to be included within each district.

20200SB1242PN1862 - 7 - (4) Precinct-level shapefiles and census block equivalency files.

(b) Plan priorities.--To the extent possible and in compliance with subsection (a), a redistricting plan shall 20200SB1242PN2013 - 8 - include the following in order of priority:

(3) Conform district boundaries to natural boundaries 20200SB1242PN1862 - 8 - existing in the physical geography of an area.

The committees may convene as a joint committee for this purpose or may agree to 20200SB1242PN2013 - 9 - divide the hearings as they deem advisable.

The plan shall 20200SB1242PN1862 - 9 - be available on the publicly accessible Internet website created under Chapter 9 for that seven-day period.

(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 proposed amendment to the preliminary plan and report the plan and supplementary information for consideration by the Senate 20200SB1242PN2013 - 10 - and House of Representatives.

20200SB1242PN1862 - 10 - (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.

A 20200SB1242PN2013 - 11 - redistricting plan on a Statewide basis shall not purposefully or unduly favor or disfavor a political party.

20200SB1242PN1862 - 11 - The LDPC shall establish a publicly accessible, user-friendly Internet website to disseminate the information and data required by this act.

(8) Preliminary plans and final plans available in, at 20200SB1242PN2013 - 12 - least, PDF and shapefile formats.

20200SB1242PN1862 - 12 - (10) The underlying data used to create or evaluate maps in a format easily usable for analysis.

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