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H.J.R. 8

             1     

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE

             2     
LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO

             3     
SESSION

             4     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             5     
STATE OF UTAH

             6     
Sponsor: Chad E. Bennion

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This joint resolution of the Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to
             11      modify provisions relating to legislative sessions.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to:
             14          .    authorize the Legislature to call itself into session;
             15          .    provide a method for the Legislature to call itself into session;
             16          .    limit the number of days that the Legislature may be in session in any calendar year
             17      for sessions which the Legislature convenes itself;
             18          .    authorize the Governor to add legislative business to a session convened by the
             19      Legislature and authorize the Legislature to add legislative business to a session
             20      convened by the Governor;
             21          .    require advance notice of legislative business in a session convened by the
             22      Legislature, with certain exceptions;
             23          .    prohibit the Legislature from convening a session within a specified period after an
             24      annual general session; and
             25          .    make conforming and clarifying changes.
             26      Special Clauses:
             27          This resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit this proposal to voters.


             28          This resolution provides an effective date.
             29      Utah Constitution Sections Affected:
             30      AMENDS:
             31          ARTICLE VI, SECTION 16
             32          ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6
             33      ENACTS:
             34          ARTICLE VI, SECTION 34
             35     
             36      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each
             37      of the two houses voting in favor thereof:
             38          Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 16, to read:
             39           Article VI, Section 16. [Duration of sessions.]
             40          [No] (1) Except in cases of impeachment:
             41          (a) no annual general session of the Legislature [shall] may exceed 45 calendar days[,
             42      except in cases of impeachment. No special session shall exceed 30 calendar days, except in
             43      cases of impeachment.];
             44          (b) no session individually, and no sessions cumulatively, convened by the Legislature
             45      under Article VI, Section 34 may exceed 15 calendar days in a calendar year; and
             46          (c) no session convened by the Governor under Article VII, Section 6 may exceed 30
             47      calendar days.
             48          (2) When any session of the Legislature trying cases of impeachment exceeds the
             49      number of days it may remain in session as provided in [this section] Subsection (1), the
             50      members shall receive compensation only for expenses and mileage for those days in excess of
             51      [30] the applicable number of days under Subsection (1).
             52          Section 2. It is proposed to enact Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 34, to read:
             53           Article VI, Section 34. [Legislature may convene itself into session.]
             54          (1) In addition to reconvening itself under Article VII, Section 8 to reconsider a bill or
             55      item returned by the Governor, the Legislature may convene itself into session with the
             56      concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected to each house, as provided in Subsection (2).
             57          (2) In order to convene the Legislature into session under this section, the presiding
             58      officer of each house shall poll the members of that house on the matter of convening into


             59      session for one or more specified items of legislative business. If two-thirds of the members of
             60      each house are in favor of convening for one or more of the specified items of legislative
             61      business, the Legislature shall be convened in session at a time set jointly by the presiding
             62      officer of each house, to transact that legislative business for which two-thirds of the members
             63      of each house were in favor of convening into session, or other legislative business as the
             64      Governor calls to the Legislature's attention while the Legislature is in session.
             65          (3) In a session convened under this section:
             66          (a) the Legislature may not transact any of the legislative business specified by
             67      two-thirds of the members elected to each house for which the Legislature has failed to provide
             68      48 hours advance public notice; and
             69          (b) the Legislature may not transact any legislative business that the Governor calls to
             70      its attention while in session for which the Governor has failed to provide 48 hours advance
             71      public notice, except in cases of declared emergency or with the concurrence of two-thirds of
             72      all members elected to each house.
             73          (4) No session of the Legislature may be convened under this section within 60 days
             74      after the adjournment sine die of the annual general session of the Legislature.
             75          Section 3. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution Article VII, Section 6, to read:
             76           Article VII, Section 6. [Convening of extra sessions of Legislature -- Advance
             77      public notice.]
             78          (1) [(a)] On extraordinary occasions, the Governor may convene the Legislature by
             79      proclamation, in which shall be stated the purpose for which the Legislature is to be convened,
             80      and it may transact no legislative business except that for which it was especially convened, or
             81      such other legislative business as the Governor may call to its attention while in session[,
             82      subject to Subsection (1)(b)] or as specified while in session by two-thirds of the members
             83      elected to each house. The Legislature, however, may provide for the expenses of the session
             84      and other matters incidental thereto.
             85          [(b) The] (2) In a session convened under this section:
             86          (a) the Legislature may not transact any legislative business, whether specified by the
             87      Governor in the proclamation or called to the Legislature's attention while in [a special] session
             88      [convened under Subsection (1)(a)], for which the Governor has [not provided] failed to
             89      provide 48 hours advance public notice, except in cases of declared emergency or with the


             90      concurrence of two-thirds of all members elected to each house[.]; and
             91          (b) the Legislature may not transact any legislative business specified by two-thirds of
             92      the members elected to each house for which the Legislature has failed to provide 48 hours
             93      advance public notice.
             94          [(2)] (3) The Governor may also by proclamation convene the Senate in extraordinary
             95      session for the transaction of executive business.
             96          Section 4. Submittal to voters.
             97          The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of
             98      the state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
             99          Section 5. Effective date.
             100          If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
             101      voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1,
             102      2005.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-17-03 2:32 PM


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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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