The concurrent resolution amends the state constitution to create the independent legislative redistricting commission (commission) to divide the state into state senate and state representative legislative districts. Specifically, the concurrent resolution: Specifies that the commission is appointed after each federal decennial census of the United States; Specifies that the commission consists of 12 members, 4 of whom must be registered with the state's largest political party, 4 of whom must be registered with the state's second largest political party, and 4 of whom must not be registered with any political party; Establishes the qualifications to serve on the commission and the method by which commissioners are appointed; Authorizes the commission to adopt rules and specifies how the commission is staffed, how the commission is funded, how the commission is organized, and sets forth the ethical obligations of the commissioners; Requires the commission to provide the opportunity for public involvement, including multiple hearings, the ability to propose maps, and to testify at commission hearings, and requires hearings to comply with state statutes regarding open meetings; Mandates that paid lobbying of the commission be disclosed to the secretary of state by the lobbyist within 72 hours of when the lobbying occurred or when the payment for lobbying occurred, whichever is earlier; Establishes prioritized factors for the commission to use in drawing districts, including federal requirements, the preservation of communities of interest and political subdivisions, and maximizing the number of competitive districts; Prohibits the commission from approving a map if it has been drawn for the purpose of protecting one or more members of or candidates for state legislative office or a political party, and codifies current federal law and related existing federal requirements prohibiting maps drawn for the purpose of or that results in the denial or abridgement of a person's right to vote or electoral influence on account of a person's race, ethnic origin, or membership in a protected language group; Requires at least 8 of the 12 commissioners, including at least 2 of the commissioners who are not registered with any political party, to approve a redistricting map and specifies the date by which a final map must be approved; Specifies that nonpartisan staff will draft a preliminary redistricting map and up to 3 additional maps, and, in the event of deadlock by the commission, creates a process by which nonpartisan staff submit a final map to the Supreme Court for review based on specified criteria; and Allows for judicial review of a commission approved or nonpartisan staff submitted redistricting map, and limits Supreme Court review to whether the commission or the staff committed an abuse of discretion.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this concurrent resolution as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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The concurrent resolution amends the state constitution to create the independent congressional redistricting commission (commission) and to transfer the general assembly's responsibility to divide the state into congressional districts to the commission. Specifically, the concurrent resolution: Specifies that the commission is appointed after each federal decennial census of the United States; Specifies that the commission consists of 12 members, 4 of whom must be registered with the state's largest political party, 4 of whom must be registered with the state's second largest political party, and 4 of whom must not be registered with any political party; Establishes the qualifications to serve on the commission and the method by which commissioners are appointed; Authorizes the commission to adopt rules and specifies how the commission is staffed, how the commission is funded, how the commission is organized, and sets forth the ethical obligations of the commissioners; Requires the commission to provide the opportunity for public involvement, including multiple hearings, the ability to propose maps, and to testify at commission hearings, and requires hearings to comply with state statutes regarding open meetings; Mandates that paid lobbying of the commission be disclosed to the secretary of state by the lobbyist within 72 hours of when the lobbying occurred or when the payment for lobbying occurred, whichever is earlier; Establishes prioritized factors for the commission to use in drawing districts, including federal requirements, the preservation of communities of interest and political subdivisions, and maximizing the number of competitive districts; Prohibits the commission from approving a map if it has been drawn for the purpose of protecting one or more members of or candidates for congress or a political party, and codifies current federal law and related existing federal requirements prohibiting maps drawn for the purpose of or that results in the denial or abridgement of a person's right to vote or electoral influence on account of a person's race, ethnic origin, or membership in a protected language group; Requires at least 8 of the 12 commissioners, including at least 2 of the commissioners who are not registered with any political party, to approve a redistricting map and specifies the date by which a final map must be approved; Specifies that nonpartisan staff will draft a preliminary redistricting map and up to 3 additional maps, and, in the event of deadlock by the commission, creates a process by which nonpartisan staff submit a final map to the Supreme Court for review based on specified criteria; and Allows for judicial review of a commission approved or nonpartisan staff submitted redistricting map, and limits Supreme Court review to whether the commission or the staff committed an abuse of discretion.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this concurrent resolution as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
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The bill specifies that if the governor nominates an individual for appointment to a state office and the senate rejects the nomination, the rejected individual is deemed legally unfit for and ineligible to hold the office. The governor is prohibited from nominating the rejected individual a second time for the same office or, if the senate is not in session, appointing the rejected individual to temporarily discharge the duties of the office. However, rejection by the senate of the nomination of an individual for any state office does not preclude the governor from nominating the rejected individual for an opening in the same office that occurs after an individual other than the rejected individual has filled the immediate opening. The bill also provides that if the governor nominates a state officer whose term is expiring for reappointment to the same office and the senate rejects the nomination, the state officer is removed from office upon the expiration of his or her term and shall not thereafter exercise the duties of the office whether or not the individual's successor has been duly qualified. If, as of the effective date of the bill, the term of office of a state officer has expired, the senate has rejected a nomination for reappointment of the state officer to the same office, and the individual is continuing to exercise the duties of the office because the individual's successor has not yet been qualified, the state officer is deemed to have been removed from office on the date that his or her term expired and shall immediately stop exercising the duties of the office. The prohibitions against the governor nominating an individual for appointment or reappointment to a state office for a second time after the individual's first nomination for appointment or reappointment to the state office has been rejected by the senate and against the governor appointing the rejected individual to temporarily discharge the duties of the office only apply for the term of the senate that rejected the individual. The rejected individual becomes eligible for nomination for appointment or reappointment to the state office on the date when a new senate convenes for its first regular session and becomes eligible for appointment to discharge the duties of the office on the date following the day on which the new senate adjourns its first regular session sine die. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
For income tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2018, the bill reduces both the individual and the corporate state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.43%. The bill also reduces the state alternative minimum tax by 0.2% for income tax years commencing on and after January 1, 2018. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More
Executive Committee of the Legislative Council. Currently, salaries for most state employees are paid once a month on the last day of the month; except that salaries for June are paid on the first working day of July. Current law states that salary payments for employees paid through the state's payroll system will change from monthly to twice monthly when the twice monthly payroll system is implemented. The bill exempts members of the general assembly and most employees of the legislative department from the change to the twice monthly payroll system. The bill specifies that members of the general assembly and most employees of the legislative department will continue to be paid monthly as of the last working day of the month; except that salaries for the month of June shall be paid on the first working day of July. The bill also specifies that salary payments for employees of the legislative department who are currently paid on a biweekly basis will change to a twice monthly payment when the twice monthly payroll system is implemented and in place for all other employees. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More
The bill makes appropriations for matters related to the legislative department for the 2018-19 state fiscal year. Additionally, the bill directs the state treasurer to transfer $850,000 from the preservation grant program account in the state historical fund to the legislative department cash fund for use in the project to restore the old supreme court chamber in the state capitol building. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More
The bill defines a traditional large and premium cigar, which is a type of tobacco product, for purposes of the excise tax on tobacco products. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More