H.J.R. 17

1

RESOLUTION CREATING A DECENNIAL
2 REDISTRICTING COMMISSION
3 2003 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Rosalind J. McGee
6 This joint resolution of the Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to
7 eliminate the Legislature's authority to divide the state into districts following the federal
8 enumeration and to establish a state redistricting commission to do so. The joint
9 resolution provides for membership on the commission, establishes qualifications of
10 commission members, restricts commission members from running for or holding certain
11 offices, provides redistricting criteria, and provides for the regulation of commission
12 proceedings. The joint resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit the proposal
13 to voters and provides an effective date.
14 This resolution proposes to change the Utah Constitution as follows:
15 AMENDS:
16 ARTICLE IX, SECTION 1
17 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each
18 of the two houses voting in favor thereof:
19 Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution Article IX, Section 1, to read:
20 Article IX, Section 1. [Apportionment.]
21 [At the session next following an enumeration made by the authority of the United
22 States, the Legislature shall]
23 (1) There shall be a State redistricting commission that shall divide the State into
24 congressional, legislative, and other districts [accordingly.] according to the decennial
25 enumeration made by the authority of the United States.
26 (2) (a) The commission shall:
27 (i) consist of seven members, appointed as provided in Subsection (2)(b); and

28 (ii) be reconstituted in connection with each decennial enumeration.
29 (b) (i) On or before January 31 of the year following the decennial enumeration:
30 (A) one member shall be appointed by the president of the Senate;
31 (B) one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
32 (C) one member shall be appointed by the leader of the minority party in the Senate;
33 (D) one member shall be appointed by the leader of the minority party in the House of
34 Representatives; and
35 (E) the chair of each of the two political parties with the most elected representatives in
36 the Legislature shall each appoint one member.
37 (ii) (A) The six members specified in Subsection (2)(b)(i) shall appoint one member.
38 (B) (I) If the six members fail to appoint a seventh member under Subsection
39 (2)(b)(ii)(A) on or before March 1 of the year following the decennial enumeration, the
40 Supreme Court shall appoint one member on or before April 1 of the year following the
41 decennial enumeration.
42 (II) If a majority of the six members specified in Subsection (2)(b)(i) submits a list of
43 names to the Supreme Court on or before March 1 of the year following the decennial
44 enumeration, the Supreme Court shall make the appointment under Subsection (2)(b)(ii)(B)(I)
45 from that list.
46 (3) (a) At the time of appointment, each commission member shall:
47 (i) be a citizen of the United States;
48 (ii) be at least 25 years of age; and
49 (iii) have been a resident of the State for three consecutive years immediately before
50 appointment.
51 (b) A person who holds an elected or appointed public office may not be appointed to
52 or serve on the commission.
53 (4) A person who serves as a member of the commission may not seek election to or
54 hold any of the offices identified in Subsection (1) until after the completion of the second
55 election for that office following the adoption of a redistricting plan by the commission of
56 which the person was a member.
57 (5) In dividing the State into districts under Subsection (1), the commission shall:
58 (a) consider:

59 (i) the preservation of communities of common interest;
60 (ii) natural and geographic boundaries; and
61 (iii) existing political boundaries; and
62 (b) make each district contiguous and reasonably compact.
63 (6) The commission shall complete the process of dividing the State into districts
64 within 120 days after both the decennial enumeration data are available to the public and the
65 commission is constituted under Subsection (2).
66 (7) (a) The commission may formulate and adopt rules, not inconsistent with this
67 article, to govern its proceedings.
68 (b) All members of the redistricting commission constitute a quorum for the purpose of
69 adopting a redistricting plan, but public hearings may be held by the commission with less than
70 a quorum.
71 (c) Adoption of a redistricting plan requires the affirmative vote of at least four
72 members of the commission.
73 Section 2. Submittal to voters.
74 The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of
75 the state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
76 Section 3. Effective date.
77 If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
78 voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1,
79 2005.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-30-03 7:49 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel