Bill Text: VA HB312 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Special joint reapportionment committee; public hearings in 2018 on the redistricting process.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-13 - Left in Rules [HB312 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-HB312-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. That a special joint reapportionment committee (the Committee) be appointed to hold in 2018 a series of four public hearings throughout the Commonwealth in order to encourage public input into and facilitate public participation in the redistricting process. The Committee shall consist of eight members, reflecting equal membership from the political parties having the highest and next highest numbers of members in the General Assembly. The hearings shall be held in northern Virginia/Fairfax area, the central Virginia/Richmond area, the southwest Virginia/Roanoke area, and the Tidewater/Norfolk area.
At each such public hearing, the Committee shall seek public comment on the redistricting process, including whether districts should be drawn by an independent commission or the General Assembly, the criteria to be considered in preparing redistricting plans and potential district changes to legislative and congressional districts.
The dates, times, and locations of the hearings shall be set by the Committee, shall be posted on the official websites of the Division of Legislative Services and the Department of Elections, and shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the hearing is set to be held at least once a week for four consecutive weeks prior to the hearing.
The Committee shall
complete all hearings and submit a written summary and report of the public
comment received at the hearings to the General Assembly on or before November
1, 2018.
