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2020 SESSION

20104115D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1256
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 8, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-304.1, 24.2-304.3, 24.2-306, and 24.2-309.2 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 60, consisting of sections numbered 30-376 through 30-385; and to repeal Chapter 39 (§§ 30-263, 30-264, and 30-265) of Title 30 of the Code of Virginia, relating to establishment of the Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission.
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Patrons-- Price, Lindsey, Samirah and Watts
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Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 24.2-304.1, 24.2-304.3, 24.2-306, and 24.2-309.2 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 60, consisting of sections numbered 30-376 through 30-385, as follows:

§ 24.2-304.1. At-large and district elections; reapportionment and redistricting of districts or wards; limits.

A. Except as otherwise specifically limited by general law or special act, the governing body of each county, city, or town may provide by ordinance for the election of its members on any of the following bases: (i) at large from the county, city, or town; (ii) from single-member or multi-member districts or wards, or any combination thereof; or (iii) from any combination of at-large, single-member, and multi-member districts or wards. A change in the basis for electing the members of the governing body shall not constitute a change in the form of county government.

B. If the members are elected from districts or wards and other than entirely at large from the locality, the districts or wards shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory and shall be so constituted as to give, as nearly as is practicable, representation in proportion to the population of the district or ward. In 1971 and every 10 years thereafter, the governing body of each such locality shall reapportion the representation among the districts or wards, including, if the governing body deems it appropriate, increasing or diminishing the number of such districts or wards, in order to give, as nearly as is practicable, representation on the basis of population.

C. For the purposes of redistricting and reapportioning representation in 2001 2021 and every 10 years thereafter, the governing body of a county, city, or town shall use the most recent decennial population figures for such county, city, or town from the United States Bureau of the Census, which figures are identical to those from the actual enumeration conducted by the United States Bureau of the Census for the apportionment of representatives in the United States House of Representatives, except that the as adjusted by the Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission pursuant to § 30-380. The census data for these redistricting and apportionment purposes will not include any population figure that is not allocated to specific census blocks within the Commonwealth, even though that population may have been included in the apportionment population figures of the Commonwealth for the purpose of allocating United States House of Representatives seats among the states. The governing body of any county, city, or town may elect to exclude the adult inmate population of any federal, state, or regional adult correctional facility located in the locality from the population figures used for the purposes of the decennial reapportionment and redistricting. The adult inmate population so excluded shall be based on information provided by the facility as to the adult inmate population at the facility on the date of the decennial census.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of general law or special act, the governing body of a county, city, or town shall not reapportion the representation in the governing body at any time other than that required following the decennial census, except as (i) provided by law upon a change in the boundaries of the county, city, or town that results in an increase or decrease in the population of the county, city, or town of more than one percent, (ii) the result of a court order, (iii) the result of a change in the form of government, or (iv) the result of an increase or decrease in the number of districts or wards other than at-large districts or wards. The foregoing provisions notwithstanding, the governing body subsequent to the decennial redistricting may adjust district or ward boundaries in order that the boundaries might coincide with state legislative or congressional district boundaries; however, no adjustment shall affect more than five percent of the population of a ward or district or 250 persons, whichever is lesser. If districts created by a reapportionment enacted subsequent to a decennial reapportionment are invalid under the provisions of this subsection, the immediately preexisting districts shall remain in force and effect until validly reapportioned in accordance with law.

§ 24.2-304.3. Recording reapportionment ordinance; notice requirements.

A copy of the ordinance reapportioning representation in the governing body of a county, city, or town, including a description of the boundaries and a map showing the boundaries of the districts or wards, shall be recorded in the official minutes of the governing body.

The clerk of the county, city, or town shall send a certified copy of the ordinance, including a description of the boundaries and a Geographic Information System (GIS) map showing the boundaries of the districts or wards, to the local electoral board, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Department of Elections, and the Division of Legislative Services Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission. Any county, city, or town that does not have GIS capabilities may request the Department of Elections to create on its behalf a GIS map showing the boundaries of the districts or wards as set out in the ordinance, and the Department of Elections shall create such a map.

§ 24.2-306. Changes not to be enacted within 60 days of general election; notice requirements.

A. No change in any local election district, precinct, or polling place shall be enacted within 60 days next preceding any general election. Notice shall be published prior to enactment in a newspaper having general circulation in the election district or precinct once a week for two successive weeks. The published notice shall state where descriptions and maps of proposed boundary and polling place changes may be inspected.

B. Notice of any adopted change in any election district, town, precinct, or polling place other than in the location of the office of the general registrar shall be mailed to all registered voters whose election district, town, precinct, or polling place is changed at least 15 days prior to the next general, special, or primary election in which the voters will be voting in the changed election district, town, precinct, or polling place. Notice of a change in the location of the office of the general registrar shall be given by posting on the official website of the county or city, by posting at not less than 10 public places, or by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or city within not more than 21 days in advance of the change or within seven days following the change.

C. Each county, city, and town shall comply with the applicable requirements of law, including §§ 24.2-304.3 and 30-264 30-380, and send copies of enacted changes, including a Geographic Information System (GIS) map showing the new boundaries of the districts or precincts, to the local electoral board, the Department, and the Division of Legislative Services Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission. Any county, city, or town that does not have GIS capabilities may request the Department of Elections to create on its behalf a GIS map showing the boundaries of the new districts or precincts, and the Department of Elections shall create such a map.

§ 24.2-309.2. Election precincts; prohibiting precinct changes for specified period of time.

No county, city, or town shall create, divide, abolish, or consolidate any precincts, or otherwise change the boundaries of any precinct, effective during the period from February 1, 2019, to May 15, 2021, except as (i) provided by law upon a change in the boundaries of the county, city, or town, (ii) the result of a court order, (iii) the result of a change in the form of government, or (iv) the result of an increase or decrease in the number of local election districts other than at-large districts. Any ordinance required to comply with the requirements of § 24.2-307 shall be adopted on or before February 1, 2019.

If a change in the boundaries of a precinct is required pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), the county, city, or town shall comply with the applicable requirements of law, including §§ 24.2-304.3 and 30-264 30-380, and send copies of the ordered or enacted changes to the State Board of Elections and the Division of Legislative Services Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission.

This section shall not prohibit any county, city, or town from adopting an ordinance revising precinct boundaries after January 1, 2021. However, no revisions in precinct boundaries shall be implemented in the conduct of elections prior to May 15, 2021.

CHAPTER 60.
VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING ADVISORY COMMISSION.

§ 30-376. Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission; purpose; definitions.

A. The Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission is established in the legislative branch of state government for the purpose of proposing districts for the United States House of Representatives and for the Senate and the House of Delegates of the General Assembly that adhere to certain constitutional and statutory criteria and are based on public input and that will be submitted for consideration and adoption by the General Assembly.

B. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Affiliated with the political party" means a history of voting at one or more primary elections of the same political party, and no primary elections of the opposing political party, held in the four preceding years.

"Census data" means the population data received from the United States Bureau of the Census pursuant to P.L. 94-171.

"Commission" means the Virginia Redistricting Advisory Commission established pursuant to this chapter.

"Partisan public office" means (i) an elective or appointive office in the executive or legislative branch or in an independent establishment of the federal government; (ii) an elective office in the executive or legislative branch of the government of the Commonwealth, or an office that is filled by appointment and is exempt from the Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.); or (iii) an office of a county, city, or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth that is filled by an election process involving nomination and election of candidates on a partisan basis.

"Political party office" means an elective office in the national or state organization of a political party, as defined in § 24.2-101.

§ 30-377. Membership; terms; vacancies; chairman; quorum; compensation and expenses; legal representation.

A. The Commission shall consist of 11 commissioners, appointed pursuant to § 30-378, of which four shall be affiliated with the political party receiving the highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election, four shall be affiliated with the political party receiving the next highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election, and three shall be unaffiliated with either of those political parties.

The commissioners shall be appointed for terms to begin on October 1 of the year ending in zero and shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms.

Vacancies shall be filled by the Commission selecting from the original applicant pool of the same political party affiliation or nonaffiliation as the commissioner being replaced and shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the commissioners, including at least one commissioner representing or affiliated with each political party.

B. A commissioner may be removed for neglect of duty or gross misconduct by a vote of the other commissioners.

C. Commissioners shall receive such compensation as provided in § 2.2-2813 for their services and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. All such compensation and expense payments shall come from existing appropriations to the Commission.

D. By October 1 of the year ending in zero, the Commission shall hold a public meeting at which it shall select a chairman and vice-chairman from its membership. The chairman and vice-chairman shall be affiliated with different political parties or not affiliated with any political party. Seven commissioners shall constitute a quorum. Any action taken by the Commission pursuant to this chapter shall be in a public meeting and shall require an affirmative vote of at least seven commissioners, including at least one commissioner of each political party affiliation, except for the selection of the chairman and vice-chairman, which shall require only a simple majority.

E. All meetings and records of the Commission shall be subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), except as provided in subsection E of § 30-378. All records and documents of the Commission, or any individual or group performing delegated functions of or advising the Commission, related to the Commission's work, including internal communications and communications from outside parties, shall be considered public information, except where protected by attorney-client privilege.

F. Commissioners, staff of the Commission, and any other adviser or consultant to the Commission shall not communicate with any person outside the Commission about matters related to reapportionment or redistricting outside of a public meeting or hearing. Written public comments submitted to the Commission, staff of the Commission, or any other adviser or consultant to the Commission shall not be a violation of this subsection. Unsolicited communications, except for public comments, shall be disclosed to the total membership of the Commission as soon as possible, and the failure to disclose such communication shall constitute neglect of duty.

G. In the event the Commission hires a lawyer or law firm, the Commission as an entity shall be considered the client of the lawyer or the law firm. No individual commissioner or group of commissioners shall be considered to be the client of the lawyer or the law firm.

§ 30-378. Application process; qualifications; selection.

A. Not later than May 1 of the year ending in zero, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall adopt an application and process by which residents of the Commonwealth may apply to serve on the Commission.

The application shall require an applicant provide information sufficient to evaluate an applicant's qualifications for service, affiliation with a political party, community leadership experience, technical skills, and ability to operate with integrity.

The application process shall be accessible and shall allow both paper and electronic or online applications. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall make available the application for persons to use when submitting a paper application and shall provide electronic access for electronic submission of applications.

The Auditor of Public Accounts shall cause to be advertised throughout the Commonwealth information about the Commission and how interested persons may apply.

B. To be eligible for service on the Commission, a person shall have been a resident of the Commonwealth and a registered voter in the Commonwealth for five years immediately preceding the application period. He shall have voted in at least two of the previous three general elections. He shall intend to serve a term of 10 years if selected for service. No person shall be eligible for service on the Commission who:

1. Holds, has held, or has sought partisan public office or political party office within the period of five years immediately preceding the application period;

2. Is employed by or has been employed by a member of the Congress of the United States or of the General Assembly or is employed directly by or has been employed directly by the United States Congress or by the General Assembly;

3. Is employed by or has been employed by any federal, state, or local campaign;

4. Is employed by or has been employed by any political party, political action committee, or entity covered by § 527 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, or is a member of a political party central committee;

5. Is a lobbyist registered pursuant to Article 3 (§ 2.2-418 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 2.2 or a lobbyist's principal as defined in § 2.2-419; or

6. Is a parent, spouse, child, sibling, parent-in-law, child-in-law, or sibling-in-law of a person described in subdivisions 1 through 5, or is a cohabitating member of a household with such a person.

C. The application period shall begin no later than June 1 of the year ending in zero and shall end on June 30 of the year ending in zero. During the application period, interested persons shall submit a completed application and any required documentation to the Auditor of Public Accounts.

D. All applications shall be reviewed by the Auditor of Public Accounts to ensure an applicant's eligibility for service pursuant to subsection B. Any applicant who is ineligible for service shall not be included in an applicant pool. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall request, and the Department of Elections shall provide for no charge, lists of persons who voted in any election held in the four preceding years. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall use such lists to determine an applicant's political party affiliation for purposes of creating the applicant pools. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall also use publicly available campaign finance records and reports to ascertain an applicant's history of political contributions. In creating the applicant pools, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall ensure that the applicants included are representative, as a whole, of the geographic, racial, and gender diversity of the Commonwealth.

E. After the close of the application period but no later than August 15 of the year ending in zero, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall create three applicant pools, each consisting of 20 candidates, as follows: one shall consist of applicants who are affiliated with the political party receiving the highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election, one shall consist of applicants who are affiliated with the political party receiving the next highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election, and one shall consist of applicants who are unaffiliated with either of those political parties. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall not communicate with any person or entity about any matter related to the creation of applicant pools or selection of candidates; however, the receipt of unsolicited written public comment shall not be a violation of this prohibition.

The names, qualifications, and applications of any candidate included in an applicant pool shall be maintained as public records and shall be made publicly available upon being submitted to the legislative leaders pursuant to subsection F.

F. Not later than August 30 of the year ending in zero, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall provide (i) the applicant pool consisting of applicants who are affiliated with the political party receiving the highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election to the leader in the House of Delegates and the leader in the Senate of Virginia of that same political party, and each shall select one candidate from this applicant pool, and (ii) the applicant pool consisting of candidates who are affiliated with the political party receiving the next highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election to the leader in the House of Delegates and the leader in the Senate of Virginia of that same political party, and each shall select one candidate from this applicant pool. The Auditor of Public Accounts shall publicly select at random one candidate from the applicant pool consisting of applicants who are unaffiliated with either of the two political parties.

G. Not later than September 30 of the year ending in zero, the five commissioners selected pursuant to subsection E shall select the remaining six commissioners: two shall be selected from the applicant pool consisting of applicants who are affiliated with the political party receiving the highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election; two shall be selected from the applicant pool consisting of applicants who are affiliated with the political party receiving the next highest number of votes for Governor at the immediately preceding gubernatorial election; and two shall be selected from the applicant pool consisting of applicants who are unaffiliated with either of those political parties. Each selection shall require an affirmative vote of four of the five commissioners. In making their selections, the commissioners shall ensure that the Commission, as a whole, is representative of the geographic, racial, and gender diversity of the Commonwealth.

§ 30-379. Staff to the Virginia Redistricting Commission; executive director.

A. The Commission shall hire an executive director and staff, including legal counsel and consultants, and shall determine their duties and fix their salaries or compensation with the amounts appropriated to the Commission. Persons employed by the Commission shall be classified as state employees and shall act in the utmost public interest of the people of the Commonwealth.

B. The Commission shall maintain the current election district and precinct boundaries of each county and city as a part of the Commission's computer-assisted mapping and redistricting systems. Whenever a county or city governing body adopts an ordinance that changes an election district or precinct boundary, the local governing body shall provide a copy of its ordinance, along with Geographic Information System (GIS) maps and other evidence documenting the boundary, to the Commission.

C. The Commission shall prepare and maintain a written description of the boundaries for the congressional, senatorial, and House of Delegates districts set out in Article 2 (§ 24.2-302.2 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 24.2. The descriptions shall identify each district boundary, insofar as practicable, by reference to political subdivision boundaries or to physical features such as named roads and streets. The Commission shall furnish to each general registrar the descriptions for the districts dividing his county or city. The provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 24.2, including the statistical reports referred to in Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 24.2, shall be controlling in any legal determination of a district boundary.

§ 30-380. United States Census population data; activities of the Commission; census liaison.

A. The Commission shall supervise activities required for the tabulation of population for the census and for the timely reception of precinct population data for reapportionment.

B. The executive director of the Commission shall serve as the state liaison with the United States Bureau of the Census on matters relating to the tabulation of the population for reapportionment purposes pursuant to P.L. 94-171. The governing bodies, electoral boards, and registrars of every county and municipality shall cooperate with the Commission in the exchange of all statistical and other information pertinent to preparation for the census.

C. For the purposes of redrawing the boundaries of the congressional, state Senate, and House of Delegates districts after the United States Census for the year 2020 and every 10 years thereafter, the Commission shall use the population data provided by the United States Bureau of the Census, as adjusted by the Commission to reflect the exclusion from the population count of a locality of persons incarcerated in a correctional facility in that locality and the inclusion in the population count of a locality of such persons in the locality of their legal residence prior to entering custody if located in the Commonwealth. The census data used for apportionment purposes shall not include any population figure that is not allocated to specific census blocks within the Commonwealth, even though that population may have been included in the apportionment figures of the Commonwealth for the purpose of allocating United States House of Representatives seats among the states.

§ 30-381. Public participation in redistricting process.

A. All meetings and hearings held by the Commission shall be adequately advertised and planned to ensure the public is able to attend and participate fully. Meetings and hearings shall be advertised in multiple languages as practicable and appropriate. Transcripts and archived videos of all meetings shall be available on the Commission's website.

B. In addition to the meetings and public hearings required pursuant to § 30-383, the Commission shall hold at least eight public hearings in different regions of the Commonwealth prior to the receipt of Census data, to receive and consider comments from the public, including information to assist in the identification of communities of interest.

C. The Commission shall establish, no later than October 1 of the year ending in zero, and maintain a website or other equivalent electronic platform. The website shall be available to the general public and shall be used to disseminate information about the Commission's activities, including information about upcoming meetings. The website shall be capable of receiving comments and proposals by citizens of the Commonwealth. Prior to voting on any proposed plan, the Commission shall publish the proposed plans on the website. All comments submitted to the Commission through its website or other means shall be made available on its website along with the identity of the person submitting the comment.

D. All data used by the Commission in the drawing of districts shall be available to the public on its website. Such data, including census data, precinct maps, election results, and shapefiles, shall be posted within three days of receipt by the Commission. Any report of the Commission evaluating a preliminary map or map submitted to the General Assembly shall be available to the public on its website.

§ 30-382. Standards and criteria for congressional and legislative districts.

A. The Commission shall draw congressional and state legislative districts that adhere to the following criteria:

1. Districts shall comply with the Constitution of the United States and all applicable federal laws.

2. Districts shall comply with the Constitution of Virginia.

3. Districts shall be so constituted as to give, as nearly as practicable, representation in proportion to the total population of the district. A deviation of five percent shall be permitted for state legislative districts.

4. Districts shall be geographically contiguous.

5. Districts shall provide racial and language minorities with an equal opportunity to participate in the political process; and

6. Districts shall respect the integrity of communities of interest to the extent practicable. A community of interest shall be defined as an area with recognized similarities of interests, including ethnic, economic, social, cultural, geographical, or historical identities. A community of interest shall not be based on common relationships with political parties or political candidates. Absent compelling evidence to the contrary, respecting communities of interest shall include minimizing splitting the boundaries of counties and cities to the extent practicable.

B. A map of districts shall not, when considered on a statewide basis, unduly favor or disfavor any political party.

C. No district or map of districts shall dilute or diminish the ability of racial and language minorities to elect candidates of choice whether alone or in coalition with others.

D. The Commission shall not use incumbent addresses in the drawing of any district or map. The Commission may consider election data only after the initial hearings to solicit public input on communities of interest have been conducted.

E. The Commission shall not split precincts unless necessary to satisfy the criteria set forth in this section.

§ 30-383. Preliminary maps; hearings; report.

A. Prior to submitting to the General Assembly plans for districts pursuant to § 30-384, the Commission shall draw preliminary maps, receive public comment, and issue a report in accordance with this section.

B. Not later than February 28 of the year ending in one, the Commission shall draw preliminary maps. A map receiving affirmative votes of a majority of the commissioners shall be posted on the Commission's website as a preliminary map. Such a map shall be accompanied by a report comparing the districts included in the map with the criteria for districts prescribed in § 30-382 and setting out all relevant data that was used in the drawing of the map. Preliminary maps shall be available on the Commission's website for at least 14 days.

C. The Commission shall hold at least five public hearings in order to receive and consider comments from the public on the preliminary maps before drawing a final map to be submitted to the General Assembly.

D. A report shall be issued with any plan for districts submitted to the General Assembly pursuant to § 30-384. The report shall include an explanation of the basis on which the Commission established the districts contained in the plan and how the plan complies with the criteria set forth in § 30-382. The report shall also contain a summary of the relevant public input received by the Commission, through either public hearings or its website, on the plan being submitted.

§ 30-384. Proposal and submission of plans for districts.

Not later than March 31 of the year ending in one, the Commission shall submit to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the leader in the House of Delegates of the political party having the next highest number of members in the House of Delegates, the President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia, and the leader in the Senate of Virginia of the political party having the next highest number of members in the Senate of Virginia plans for districts for the United States House of Representatives, the Senate, or the House of Delegates. To be submitted as a proposed plan for districts, a plan shall receive affirmative votes of at least seven of the 11 commissioners.

If the Commission fails to submit a proposed plan for districts by the deadline contained herein, districts shall be established by the General Assembly. Such districts shall adhere to the criteria and standards set forth in § 30-382.

§ 30-385. Consideration of plans by the General Assembly; timeline.

A. All plans for districts for the United States House of Representatives, the Senate, and the House of Delegates shall be embodied in and voted on as separate bills.

B. The General Assembly shall bring each bill to a vote in either the Senate or the House of Delegates expeditiously and not less than seven days after the report of the Commission required by § 30-383 is received and made available to the members of the General Assembly, under a procedure or rule permitting no amendments except those of a purely corrective nature. Once a bill is approved by the first house in which it is considered, it shall be expeditiously brought to a vote in the second house under a similar procedure or rule.

If a bill fails to be approved by a constitutional majority in either the Senate or the House of Delegates, the Clerk of the Senate or House of Delegates, as the case may be, shall at once transmit to the Commission information that the Senate or House of Delegates may direct regarding the reasons the plan embodied in such bill was not approved.

C. If the plan submitted under subsection B fails to be enacted, the Commission shall prepare a bill embodying a second plan, which shall take into account the reasons cited by the Senate or House of Delegates for its failure to approve the plan or by the Governor for his veto of the plan insofar as it is possible to do so within the requirements of § 30-383.

If a second plan is required under this subsection, a bill embodying it shall be delivered to the Clerks of the Senate and House of Delegates not later than 14 days after the date of the vote by which the Senate or the House of Delegates fails to approve, or the date the Governor vetoes, the bill submitted under subsection B, whichever date is later. Such bill shall be brought to a vote not less than seven days after the bill is printed and made available to the members of the General Assembly, in the same manner as prescribed for the bill required under subsection B including the prohibition against amendments being permitted except those of a purely corrective nature.

If the second bill fails to be approved by a constitutional majority in either the Senate or the House of Delegates, the Clerk of the Senate or House of Delegates, as the case may be, shall at once transmit to the Commission information that the Senate or House of Delegates may direct regarding the reasons the plan was not approved.

D. If the plan submitted under subsection C fails to be enacted, the same procedure as prescribed by subsection C shall be followed. If a third plan is required under this subsection, the bill embodying it shall be delivered to the Clerks of the Senate and House of Delegates not later than 14 days after the date of the vote by which the Senate or House of Delegates fails to approve, or the date the Governor vetoes, the bill submitted under subsection C, whichever date is later. If it is necessary to submit a bill under this subsection, the bill shall be brought to a vote within the same time period after its delivery to the Clerks of the Senate and House of Delegates as prescribed for the bill submitted under subsection C, but the bill shall be subject to amendment in the same manner as other bills.

2. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.

3. That Chapter 39 (§§ 30-263, 30-264, and 30-265) of Title 30 of the Code of Virginia is repealed.

4. That any decisions made by the Joint Reapportionment Committee pursuant to its authority in § 30-263 of the Code of Virginia, or any redistricting preparation efforts made by the Division of Legislative Services at its direction, prior to the effective date of this act shall be valid.

5. That the current state census liaisons for Virginia, designated by the Director of the Division of Legislative Services pursuant to his authority in § 30-264 of the Code of Virginia and communicated to the United States Bureau of the Census in accordance with the Establishment of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program (79 F.R. 41258), shall continue to serve as the state census liaisons until April 1, 2021. Upon receipt of the P.L. 94-171 data, the state census liaisons shall promptly transmit such data to the Commission.

6. That the Division of Legislative Services shall, no later than October 1, 2020, transfer to the Virginia Redistricting Commission the redistricting website maintained by it as part of its support to the General Assembly in the General Assembly's redistricting efforts.

7. That the Division of Legislative Services shall, no later than October 1, 2020, transfer to the Virginia Redistricting Commission the databases maintained by it as part of its support to the General Assembly in the General Assembly's redistricting efforts.