FIRST REGULAR SESSION
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES FLOOK (Sponsor), TILLEY AND COOPER (158) (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time January 23, 2007 and copies ordered printed.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment repealing sections 20, 20(a), and 25 of article III of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting three new sections in lieu thereof relating to the general assembly.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2008, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article III of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:
Section A. Sections 20, 20(a), and 25, article III, Constitution of Missouri, are repealed and two new sections adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 20 and 20(a), to read as follows:
Section 20. The general assembly shall meet on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following each general election. During even-numbered years, no bill other than an appropriation bill shall be introduced or considered, unless a special session is called under section 20(b) of this article or under section 9 of article IV. Compensation of members of the general assembly during even-numbered years shall be an amount equal to one-half of members' compensation during odd-numbered years, as provided by law. Beginning in 2009, and every ten years thereafter, a zero-based budgeting process shall be used, and no bill other than an appropriation bill or a bill repealing statutes which have expired, sunset, terminated, or are otherwise deemed appropriate to repeal, shall be introduced or considered, unless a special session is called under section 20(b) of this article or under section 9 of article IV. The general assembly may provide by law for the introduction of bills during the period between the first day of December and the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January.
The general assembly shall reconvene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January after adjournment at midnight on May thirtieth of the preceding odd-numbered year. The general assembly shall reconvene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January after adjournment at midnight on March thirty-first of the preceding even-numbered year. A majority of the elected members of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. The sessions of each house shall be held with open doors, except in cases which may require secrecy but not including the final vote on bills, resolutions and confirmations. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than ten days at any one time, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses may be sitting.
Section 20(a). In odd-numbered years, the general assembly shall adjourn at midnight on May thirtieth, and in even-numbered years shall adjourn at midnight on March thirty-first, until the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January of the following year, unless it has adjourned prior thereto. All bills in either house remaining on the calendar after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May in odd-numbered years, or after 6:00 p.m. on the third Friday following the first Monday in March in even-numbered years, are tabled. The period between the first Friday following the second Monday in May and May thirtieth in odd-numbered years and between the third Friday following the first Monday in March and March thirty-first in even-numbered years shall be devoted to the enrolling, engrossing, and the signing in open session by officers of the respective houses of bills passed prior to 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May in odd-numbered years and prior to 6:00 p.m. on the third Friday following the first day in March in even-numbered years.
The general assembly shall automatically stand adjourned sine die at 6:00 p.m. on the sixtieth calendar day after the date of its convening in special session unless it has adjourned sine die prior thereto.
Section 25. In odd-numbered years, no bill other than an appropriation bill shall be introduced in either house after the sixtieth legislative day unless consented to by a majority of the elected members of each house or the governor shall request a consideration of the proposed legislation by a special message. No appropriation bill shall be taken up for consideration after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the first Monday in May [of each year] in odd-numbered years or after 6:00 p.m. on the third Friday following the first Monday in March in even-numbered years.
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