A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 9 of Article II thereof, and by amending Sections 3, 4, 10, and 11 of Article IV thereof, relating to the Legislature.

Existing provisions of the California Constitution provide that the Legislature meets in a biennial regular session, commencing with the first Monday in December in an even-numbered year, when each house is required to immediately organize, and concluding at midnight on November 30 of the next even-numbered year. This measure would provide that the meeting on the first Monday in December in an even-numbered year shall be for the sole purpose of organizing, and that the Legislature shall otherwise convene in regular session each year only between the first business day in March and June 30. This measure would permit the Legislature to meet in regular session after June 30 of any calendar year only for a period of up to 15 days to reconsider bills vetoed by the Governor. Existing provisions of the California Constitution prevent a member from receiving travel and living expenses during the times that the Legislature is in recess for more than 3 calendar days, but exempts from that prohibition travel to or from, and attendance at, any meeting of a committee of which he or she is a member, or a meeting, conference, or other legislative function or responsibility as authorized by the rules of the house of which he or she is a member, which is held at a location at least 20 miles from his or her place of residence. This measure would eliminate these exemptions, and, except for members of the committees on rules of each house or a joint committee on rules when meeting in Sacramento on issues relating to the operations of the Legislature would permit a Member of the Legislature to receive these expenses only for limited periods of legislative sessions. It would prohibit the payment of living expenses, or related travel expenses, for a Member attending a legislative session or committee meeting less than 20 miles from the Member's place of residence. Existing provisions of the California Constitution provide that any bill passed by the Legislature before September 1 of the 2nd calendar year of the biennium of the legislative session and in the possession of the Governor on or after September 1 that is not returned on or before September 30 of that year becomes a statute. This measure would instead provide that any bill passed by the Legislature before July 1 of the 2nd calendar year of the biennium of the legislative session and in the possession of the Governor on or after July 1 that is not returned on or before July 30 of that year becomes a statute. Existing constitutional provisions provide that a bill introduced during the first year of the biennium of the legislative session that has not been passed by the house of origin by January 31 of the 2nd calendar year of the biennium may no longer be acted on by the house. This measure would change the date by which a bill would have to be passed by the house of origin in the 2nd calendar year of the biennium to March 31. Existing constitutional provisions authorize the selection of legislative committees, as specified. This measure would permit committees of the Legislature, except rules committees, to convene or hold hearings only on days that the Legislature is not in recess. This measure provides that it would become effective as of the first day of the biennial session of the Legislature next commencing following the date on which this measure is approved by the voters.