SJR 45 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, makes various changes to the General Assembly.Redistricting Commissions
Under current law, there are two commissions charged with redistricting the General Assembly, one for the House of Representatives and one for the Senate. This amendment changes this to only one commission for both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The amendment additionally provides that each member of a political party committee responsible for nominating individuals for appointment to the commission shall be entitled to only one vote notwithstanding the number of offices or titles that the member may have or the manner in which the member became a member of the committee. Furthermore, the amendment allows for additional compensation to be provided to members of the commission by law.
The amendment provides that, in the event that the General Assembly Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission is discharged, then the judicial commission charged with creating new redistricting plans shall prepare a tentative plan within 30 days of the discharge and a final plan within 60 days of discharge. Furthermore, the public is permitted to submit comments and objections to the tentative plan prepared by the judicial commission.
Redistricting Criteria
The amendment adds to the redistricting criteria that must be used in drawing maps a requirement that no House of Representatives district shall cross a Senate district line or be in more than one Senate district.
Term Limits
Under current law, no person shall be elected to serve more than 8 years total in any one house of the General Assembly nor more than 16 years total in both houses of the General Assembly. This amendment changes that so no person can serve in the House of Representatives for two years after serving 8 continuous years in that chamber, in the Senate for four years after serving 8 continuous years in that chamber, or in either house of the General Assembly for four years after serving 16 continuous years in both houses of the General Assembly.
Size of House of Representatives
Under current law, the House of Representatives consists of 163 members elected from 163 districts. This amendment increases that to 170 members elected from 170 districts.
Legislator Pay
The amendment provides that, beginning with the first regular session of the General Assembly following the adoption of this amendment, senators and representatives shall receive a salary of three times the sum that is currently provided by law as of the adoption of the amendment. The amendment additionally provides that senators and representatives shall receive travel expenses and actual and necessary expenses as is provided by law.
Tie Votes in House of Representatives
The amendment provides that the Lieutenant Governor shall cast the deciding vote on equal division in the House of Representatives.
Legislative Sessions
Under current law, the General Assembly meets in regular session each year beginning on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January and ending on May 30th, provided that all legislation remaining on the calendar after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday after the second Monday in May is tabled.
This amendment provides that the General Assembly shall convene in regular session each year beginning on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January and ending on the December 31st after each general election, provided that all legislation remaining on the calendar after 6:00 p.m. on the November 30th after each general election is tabled.
Every bill presented to the governor and returned with his objections shall stand as reconsidered in the house to which it is returned, at any time the General Assembly may be in session, in the sole discretion of the General Assembly, but not later than thirty days after the bill is returned, with objections, by the governor.
If the governor returns any bill with his objections on or after the fifth day before the last day upon which a session of the General Assembly may consider bills, the General Assembly shall automatically reconvene on the December 27th following each general election for a period not to exceed five calendar days for the sole purpose of considering bills returned by the governor.
The amendment repeals a provision allowing for the General Assembly to call itself into special session.
SCOTT SVAGERA