GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 682

 

 

Short Title:      Limit General Assembly Session Length.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Representative Dollar.

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Referred to:

Judiciary I, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

April 11, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to amend the north carolina constitution to limit the length of legislative sessions.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Section 11(1) of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:

"Sec. 11. Sessions.

(1)        Regular Sessions. The General Assembly shall meet in regular session in 1973 and every two years thereafter on the day prescribed by law. Neither house shall proceed upon public business unless a majority of all of its members are actually present.

Beginning with the regular session in 2019, the General Assembly shall jointly adjourn the regular session on or before June 30 of each calendar year. In odd‑numbered years, the General Assembly may initially convene the regular session for not more than two consecutive calendar days, jointly adjourn for not more than 30 consecutive calendar days, and reconvene in regular session. When the General Assembly jointly adjourns the regular session on or before June 30, it stands adjourned until at least January 1 of the following calendar year. No valid action, other than a resolution of adjournment, may be taken up by the General Assembly after the time limits prescribed in this section have expired. This requirement does not apply to any reconvened session called under Section 5 of Article III of this Constitution."

SECTION 2.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at a statewide election to be conducted on November 6, 2018, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

"[ ] FOR          [ ] AGAINST

Constitutional amendment limiting the length of legislative sessions."

SECTION 3.  If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act becomes effective upon certification.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.