Bill Text: WV SJR7 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Proposing constitutional amendment designated Organization of Houses of Legislature Amendment
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - To Judiciary [SJR7 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2014-SJR7-Introduced.html
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7
(By Senator Wells)
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[Introduced January 8, 2014; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.]
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Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending section 18, article VI thereof, relating to the time and place of assembly and length of legislative session; changing the date for organization of each house of the Legislature by the election of its officers to December 1, following a general election; 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 2014, which proposed amendment is that section 18, article VI thereof be amended to read as follows:
ARTICLE VI. THE LEGISLATURE.
§18. Time and place of assembly of Legislature.
The Legislature shall assemble annually at the seat of government, and not more often oftener unless convened by the Governor. Regular sessions of the Legislature shall commence on the second Wednesday of January of each year. Upon : Provided, That prior to the convening of the Legislature in January, each house shall meet on December 1 following each general election, in each odd-numbered year, and each house shall proceed to organize by the election of its officers for two-year terms and both houses shall then in joint assembly open and publish the election returns delivered to the Legislature as prescribed by other provisions of this Constitution and by general law. When all of these matters have been completed in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-three 2017 and every fourth year thereafter, the Legislature shall adjourn until the second Wednesday of February following. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-one of this article and any other provisions of this Constitution, on and after the effective date hereof, there shall be submitted by the Governor to the Legislature, on the second Wednesday of February in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-three 2017 and every fourth year thereafter, and on the second Wednesday of January of all other years, unless a later time in any year be fixed by the Legislature, a budget for the next ensuing fiscal year and a bill for the proposed appropriations of such budget.
Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, the proposed amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment No. 1" and designated as the “Organization of Houses of the Legislature Amendment” and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: “To amend the State Constitution to permit the Legislature to organize by the election of its officers on December 1, following a general election, and prior to convening in January.”
NOTE: The purpose of this Joint Resolution is to amend the State Constitution to permit the Legislature to organize by the election of its officers on December 1, following a general election, and prior to convening in January.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present Constitution, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
