CACR 20 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2083

06/03

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 20

RELATING TO: meetings of the general court.

PROVIDING THAT: the general court shall meet biennially.

SPONSORS: Rep. Tregenza, Carr 2

COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution provides that the general court meet biennially.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2083

06/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO: meetings of the general court.

PROVIDING THAT: the general court shall meet biennially.

Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the

Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That article 3 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

[Art.] 3. [General Court, When to Meet and Dissolve.] The senate and house shall assemble biennially on the first Wednesday of December for organizational purposes in even numbered years, and following their organization, they shall assemble [annually] on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January, and at such other times as they may judge necessary; and shall dissolve and be dissolved at 12:01 A.M. on the first Wednesday of December in even numbered years and shall be styled The General Court of New Hampshire.

II. That article 15 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

[Art.] 15. [Compensation of the Legislature.] The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature, shall severally receive out of the state treasury as compensation in full for their services for the term elected the sum of $250, and all other members thereof, seasonably attending and not departing without license, the sum of $200 and each member shall receive mileage for actual daily attendance on legislative days, but not after the legislature shall have been in session for 45 legislative days or after the first day of July following the [annual] biennial assembly of the legislature, whichever occurs first; provided, however, that, when a special session shall be called by the governor or by a 2/3 vote of the then qualified members of each branch of the general court, such officers and members shall receive for attendance an additional compensation of $3 per day for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage. Nothing herein shall prevent the payment of additional mileage to members attending committee meetings or on other legislative business on nonlegislative days.

III. That the above amendments proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2012.

IV. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2012 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2012 session of the general court shall be approved.

V. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:

“Are you in favor of amending article 3 and article 15 of the second part of the constitution so that these articles read as follows:

[Art.] 3. [General Court, When to Meet and Dissolve.] The senate and house shall assemble biennially on the first Wednesday of December for organizational purposes in even numbered years, and following their organization they shall assemble on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January, and at such other times as they may judge necessary; and shall dissolve and be dissolved at 12:01 A.M. on the first Wednesday of December in even numbered years and shall be styled The General Court of New Hampshire.

[Art.] 15. [Compensation of the Legislature.] The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature, shall severally receive out of the state treasury as compensation in full for their services for the term elected the sum of $250, and all other members thereof, seasonably attending and not departing without license, the sum of $200 and each member shall receive mileage for actual daily attendance on legislative days, but not after the legislature shall have been in session for 45 legislative days or after the first day of July following the [annual] biennial assembly of the legislature, whichever occurs first; provided, however, that, when a special session shall be called by the governor or by a 2/3 vote of the then qualified members of each branch of the general court, such officers and members shall receive for attendance an additional compensation of $3 per day for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage. Nothing herein shall prevent the payment of additional mileage to members attending committee meetings or on other legislative business on nonlegislative days.”

VI. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2012 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.

VII. That if the proposed amendments are approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.