GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 322

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Sponsors: Representative Weatherly.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House.

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February 25, 1997

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO PREPARE A PLAN FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FOR THE 1998 ELECTIONS AND TO PROVIDE THAT THAT PLAN WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  There is established an Independent Redistricting Commission (hereinafter "Commission" ) to prepare a congressional redistricting plan for the 1998 elections to submit to the General Assembly. 
Section 2.  The Commission shall consist of six members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Three by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(2)	Three by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
All members shall have training and experience in redistricting, political science, or computer science. No person may serve on the Commission who currently holds elective office or who has held elective office or been a candidate for elective office in the four years prior to service on the Commission. The appointing officers shall make their appointments no later than three days after the ratification of this resolution. 
Section 3.  The Commission shall prepare a congressional redistricting plan and submit it to the General Assembly within 30 days after the appointment of its members. The submission shall be made by filing copies of the plan with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Legislative Library. In preparing the plan, the Commission shall create districts that meet the standards of equality in population, contiguity, and compactness. The Commission shall strive to avoid dividing political subdivisions. The Commission shall strive to avoid dividing communities of interest that are based on geography or other nonracial factors. The Commission shall not create districts on the basis of the following information:
(1)	The political affiliation of voters;
(2)	Voting data from previous elections; or
(3)	The location of incumbents' residences.
The Commission shall take into consideration all relevant requirements of the United States Constitution and Acts of Congress. The Commission may hold any public hearings it deems necessary.
Section 4.  During their service, the members of the Commission shall receive the same salary as members of the General Assembly under G.S. 120-3(b) and shall receive the same subsistence and travel allowances as members of the General Assembly under G.S. 120-3.1. From funds available to the Legislative Services Commission, money shall be allocated to the Commission. At the request of the Commission, the Legislative Services Commission as it deems appropriate may supply members of the staff of the Legislative Services Office and clerical assistance and may make equipment available. The Commission may, with the approval of the Legislative Services Commission, meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Section 5.  Upon receipt of the plan proposed by the Commission, the House and the Senate shall vote on a bill embodying that plan. The bill shall provide that the plan will be in effect for the 1998 elections. No amendments shall be in order that change the portions of the bill defining the districts.
Section 6.  The Commission shall expire April 1, 1997.
Section 7.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.