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SF 4573

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/05/2022 08:12am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV, section 3;
establishing a redistricting commission to adopt congressional and legislative
district boundaries following each federal decennial census.

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

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 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 3, will read:
new text end

Sec. 3.

deleted text begin At its first session after each enumeration of the inhabitants of this state made
by the authority of the United States, the legislature shall have the power to prescribe the
bounds of congressional and legislative districts.
deleted text end Senators shall be chosen by single districts
of convenient contiguous territory. No representative district shall be divided in the formation
of a senate district. The senate districts shall be numbered in a regular series.

new text begin A redistricting commission shall be established to adopt boundaries of congressional
and legislative districts in accordance with the principles and requirements provided by this
section. The commission consists of five retired judges of the appellate or district courts of
this state. The senate majority leader, the senate minority leader, the speaker of the house
of representatives, and the minority leader of the house of representatives are each authorized
to appoint a member to the commission. By March 1 of the year following a federal decennial
census, each appointing authority shall appoint one retired judge to serve as a member of
the commission. The appointing authorities must consult with each other in an effort to
attain geographic balance in their appointments to the commission. If an appointing authority
fails to make an appointment by the deadline, the chief justice of the supreme court shall
appoint a retired judge to fill the open position no later than March 8 of that year. An
appointing authority must not appoint a retired judge who has served as a legislator, governor,
lieutenant governor, executive officer, or any other position that is party designated or party
endorsed.
new text end

new text begin After all four appointments have been made, the chief justice of the supreme court shall
convene a meeting of the four judges no later than March 15 of that year, at which meeting
the appointed judges shall, by a vote of at least three judges, appoint a fifth judge. The five
judges shall select one of their number to serve as chair of the commission.
new text end

new text begin In performing their duties, the members of the commission shall abide by the Code of
Judicial Conduct and are considered judicial officers within the meaning provided by law,
and must be compensated for their commission activity as provided by law.
new text end

new text begin The commission shall adopt a schedule for interested persons to submit proposed plans
to the commission and to respond to plans proposed by others. The commission shall adopt
principles to govern the creation and format of plans submitted to it. The commission shall
hold at least three public hearings in different geographical regions of the state before
adopting its plans.
new text end

new text begin No later than December 31 of the year following a federal decennial census, the
commission must, by majority vote, adopt new districting plans for legislative and
congressional districts, in accordance with the principles and requirements established by
this section. The plans adopted by the commission must take effect beginning at the next
state general election and remain in effect until new plans are adopted by a commission
constituted following the next federal decennial census.
new text end

new text begin The commission appointed after each federal decennial census expires when both
legislative and congressional redistricting plans have been adopted.
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 2022 general election.
The question submitted must be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to remove the ability of legislators to
enact legislative and congressional redistricting plans and instead establish a commission
of five retired judges to independently adopt redistricting plans after each federal decennial
census?
new text end

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