Bill Text: WV SJR1 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: County Boundary Review Amendment
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-10 - To Judiciary [SJR1 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-SJR1-Introduced.html
WEST virginia legislature
2024 regular session
Introduced
Senate Joint Resolution 1
By Senator Oliverio
[Introduced January 10, 2024; referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending article IX thereof, by adding thereto a new section, designated section 14, relating to permitting the Legislature to redraw and/or combine counties every 100 years as it deems fit; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:
That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2025, which proposed amendment is that article IX thereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section 14, to read as follows:
ARTICLE IX.
§14. Redrawing County Boundaries.
Beginning in the year 2031, and continuing every 100 years thereafter, the Legislature shall review the populations, demographics, and the available routes and means of transportation for all the counties of the state. If, in the determination of the Legislature, the residents of a county or counties may benefit from redrawing of the county lines, or from combining a county with the area and governance of another county, the Legislature may redraw the boundaries or combine the counties in such manner as will bring the greatest benefit to the citizens of West Virginia. The proposed new boundaries shall be submitted to the citizens of the respective counties at the next general election for the determination of the approval or disapproval of those citizens.
Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment 1" and designated as the "County Boundary Review Amendment" and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: "That in 2025, and every 100 years thereafter, the Legislature shall assess the needs and populations of the counties in this state and redraw the boundaries or combine counties as necessary for the wellbeing of the residents in the counties."
NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to propose a Constitutional Amendment to allow the Legislature to redraw county boundaries and combine counties every 100 years.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
