SF 84

as introduced - 79th Legislature (1995 - 1996) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the legislature; requiring certain 
  1.3             committee planning; requiring the adoption of budget 
  1.4             targets; setting limits for certain meetings of the 
  1.5             legislature; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota 
  1.6             Constitution, article IV, section 12; proposing coding 
  1.7             for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 3. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  [3.076] [EVEN-NUMBERED YEAR SESSION.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [BILLS; COMMITTEE AGENDAS.] No bill may be 
  1.11  introduced for consideration during an even-numbered year after 
  1.12  November 30 in the preceding odd-numbered year.  The house of 
  1.13  representatives and senate shall provide by rule for the 
  1.14  introduction of bills during the interim period that precedes 
  1.15  December 1.  In December of each odd-numbered year, the chair of 
  1.16  each committee shall prepare a schedule and plan for the work of 
  1.17  the committee in the following year. 
  1.18     Subd. 2.  [BUDGET TARGETS.] Before the first day of meeting 
  1.19  of the legislature in each even-numbered year, the governor and 
  1.20  the legislature shall adopt a budget target for the next year.  
  1.21  No law may provide for expenditures that exceed that target.  
  1.22  If, after the adoption of a budget target, it becomes apparent 
  1.23  that revenues will fall short of the expected amount, 
  1.24  expenditures must be limited to the smaller amount.  Projected 
  1.25  increases in revenues in excess of those assumed in the budget 
  1.26  target may not be taken into account to increase the permitted 
  2.1   expenditures. 
  2.2      Sec. 2.  [CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.] 
  2.3      An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV, 
  2.4   section 12, is proposed to the people.  If the amendment is 
  2.5   adopted, the section shall read: 
  2.6      Sec. 12.  The legislature shall meet at the seat of 
  2.7   government in regular session in each biennium at the times 
  2.8   prescribed by law for not exceeding a total of 120 legislative 
  2.9   days.  The legislature shall not meet in regular session, nor in 
  2.10  any adjournment thereof, after the first Monday following the 
  2.11  third Saturday in May of any year.  The legislature shall not 
  2.12  meet in regular session during an even-numbered year except 
  2.13  during the eight calendar weeks that follow the first day of 
  2.14  meeting.  After meeting at a time prescribed by law, the 
  2.15  legislature may adjourn to another time.  "Legislative day" 
  2.16  shall be defined by law.  A special session of the legislature 
  2.17  may be called by the governor on extraordinary occasions. 
  2.18     Neither house during a session of the legislature shall 
  2.19  adjourn for more than three days (Sundays excepted) nor to any 
  2.20  other place than that in which the two houses shall be assembled 
  2.21  without the consent of the other house. 
  2.22     Sec. 3.  [QUESTION.] 
  2.23     The amendment shall be submitted to the people at the 1996 
  2.24  general election.  The question proposed shall be: 
  2.25     "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to limit the 
  2.26  time of the legislative sessions in even-numbered years? 
  2.27                                     Yes .......
  2.28                                     No ........"