Requiring Redistricting to be Conducted Through Plan of Independent State Commission or Plan of Highest State Court

(a) Use of Plan Required (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any Congressional redistricting conducted by a State shall be conducted in accordance with— (A) the redistricting plan developed by the independent redistricting commission established in the State, in accordance with section 4; or (B) if the plan developed by such commission is not enacted into law, the redistricting plan selected by the highest court in the State or developed by a United States district court, in accordance with section 5. (2) Treatment of commissions established pursuant to laws enacted prior to enactment If Congressional redistricting in a State is conducted in accordance with a redistricting plan developed by a commission which was established in the State pursuant to a law enacted prior to the date of the enactment of this Act, the redistricting shall be deemed to meet the requirement of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1). (3) Other criteria and procedures permitted Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act may be construed to prohibit a State from conducting Congressional redistricting in accordance with such criteria and procedures as the State considers appropriate, to the extent that such criteria and procedures are consistent with the applicable requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (b) Conforming Amendment Section 22(c) of the Act entitled An Act to provide for the fifteenth and subsequent decennial censuses and to provide for an apportionment of Representatives in Congress, approved June 18, 1929 (2 U.S.C. 2a(c)), is amended by striking in the manner provided by the law thereof and inserting: in the manner provided by the John Tanner and Jim Cooper Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act.