HF 7

as introduced - 89th Legislature, 2015 1st Special Session (2015 - 2015) Posted on 06/15/2015 08:38am

A bill for an act
proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV, sections 12
and 22; specifying deadlines for certain actions by the legislature; authorizing the
legislature to meet in regular session in September of an odd-numbered year for
certain purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED.
new text end

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the
amendment is adopted, article IV, section 12, will read:
new text end

Sec. 12.

The legislature shall meet at the seat of government in regular session in each
biennium at the times prescribed by law for not exceeding a total of deleted text begin 120 deleted text end new text begin 150 new text end legislative
days. The legislature shall not meet in regular session, nor in any adjournment thereof,
after the first Monday deleted text begin following the third Saturday deleted text end in deleted text begin May deleted text end new text begin June new text end of any year new text begin , except that
it may meet in regular session in September of an odd-numbered year for purposes
of conducting oversight activities, providing relief for disasters, and engaging in any
business necessary to prepare for the regular session convening the following calendar
year new text end . After meeting at a time prescribed by law, the legislature may adjourn to another
time. "Legislative day" shall be defined by law.

A special session of the legislature may be called by the governor on extraordinary
occasions.

Neither house during a session of the legislature shall adjourn for more than three
days (Sundays excepted) nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be
assembled without the consent of the other house.

new text begin article IV, section 22, will read:
new text end

Sec. 22.

The style of all laws of this state shall be: "Be it enacted by the legislature of
the state of Minnesota." No law shall be passed unless voted for by a majority of all the
members elected to each house of the legislature, and the vote entered in the journal of
each house. new text begin No bill in a regular session shall be passed unless each house has passed a
version of the bill, with the same language or with different language from that passed
by the other house, at least 21 calendar days before the last day the legislature can meet
in regular session that year. If one house does not concur in amendments to a bill made
by the other house, any agreement by a conference committee established to resolve the
differences in the bills must be reported back to both houses at least seven calendar days
before the last day the legislature can meet in regular session that year. If, during this
seven-calendar-day period, a house votes to return a bill to the conference committee, the
committee must vote to report the bill back to both houses the next calendar day after the
bill was returned if a new agreement on the bill was reached by the committee.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2016 general
election. The question submitted must be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to ensure adequate time for the
legislature to consider bills when meeting in regular session and to permit the legislature
to meet in regular session in September of odd-numbered years for purposes of conducting
oversight activities, providing relief from disasters, and engaging in business necessary to
prepare for the regular session in the following calendar year?
new text end

	new text begin Yes . new text end
	new text begin No . new text end	new text begin " new text end