First Substitute S.J.R. 5

Senator John W. Hickman proposes the following substitute bill:

1 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CALLING
2 OF SPECIAL SESSIONS BY THE
3 LEGISLATURE
4 2002 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: John W. Hickman
7 This joint resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to allow the Legislature to
8 convene itself into special session. The joint resolution limits the length of a special session
9 convened by the Legislature and limits the number of those special sessions. The joint
10 resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit the proposal to voters, makes clarifying
11 and technical changes, and provides an effective date.
12 This resolution proposes to change the Utah Constitution as follows:
13 AMENDS:
14 ARTICLE VI, SECTION 16
15 ENACTS:
16 ARTICLE VI, SECTION 34
17 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each of
18 the two houses voting in favor thereof:
19 Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 16, to read:
20 Article VI, Section 16. [Duration of sessions.]
21 (1) No annual general session of the Legislature [shall] may exceed 45 calendar days,
22 except in cases of impeachment.
23 (2) [No special session shall exceed 30 calendar days, except] Except in cases of
24 impeachment[.]:
25 (a) no special session convened by the Legislature under Article VI, Section 34 may

26 exceed ten calendar days; and
27 (b) no special session convened by the Governor under Article VII, Section 6 may exceed
28 30 calendar days.
29 (3) When any session of the Legislature trying cases of impeachment exceeds the number
30 of days it may remain in session as provided in this section, the members shall receive
31 compensation only for expenses and mileage for those days in excess of 45, for a general session,
32 or 30, for a special session.
33 Section 2. It is proposed to enact Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 34, to read:
34 Article VI, Section 34. [Legislature may call special session.]
35 (1) In addition to the manner of convening the Legislature under Article VII, Section 6,
36 and the reconvening of the Legislature under Article VII, Section 8 to reconsider a bill or item
37 returned by the Governor, the Legislature may be convened into special session by a majority of
38 all the members elected to each house, to conduct legislative business specified by the majority.
39 (2) No more than four special sessions may be convened under this section in any calendar
40 year.
41 Section 3. Submittal to voters.
42 The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of the
43 state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
44 Section 4. Effective date.
45 If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
46 voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1,
47 2003.