GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	1
SENATE BILL 104

 
 
Short Title:	Session Length Limits.	()	
Sponsors:	Senators Hoyle;  Albertson, Berger, Dalton, Forrester, Harris, Martin of Pitt, and Swindell.	
Referred to:	Judiciary I.	
February 8, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to amend the north carolina constitution to limit the length of legislative sessions.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section 11(1) of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"(1)	Regular sessions. The General Assembly shall meet in regular session in 1973 and every two years thereafter on the day prescribed by law. Beginning with the regular session in 2003, during an odd-numbered year the General Assembly shall remain in session for no more than 135 calendar days, except that this period may be extended by joint resolution once per regular session for not more than 10 days. The month of December following the beginning of the term is also included in the calculation. If the General Assembly upon convening of the regular session meets for not more than two consecutive calendar days and then adjourns for not less than 30 days, that period of adjournment shall be excluded from the 135 days. If the regular session meets in even-numbered years, the General Assembly shall remain in session for no more than 60 calendar days, except that this period may be extended by joint resolution once per regular session for not more than 10 days, but the month in December following the election is excluded from the calculation. Any reconvened session called under Section 5 of Article III of this Constitution shall be excluded from the calculations of this section. Neither house shall proceed upon public business unless a majority of all of its members are actually present. No valid action, other than a resolution of adjournment, may be taken by the General Assembly after the time limits prescribed in this section have expired."
SECTION 2.  Section 9 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 9.	Term of office.
The term of office of Senators and Representatives shall commence on the first Wednesday in December next after their election."
SECTION 3.  The amendments set out in Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the general election in November 2002, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State.  Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes.  The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ]	FOR	[ ]	AGAINST
Constitutional amendments limiting the length of the legislative session."
SECTION 4.  If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendments set out in Sections 1 and 2 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendments to the Secretary of State.  Section 2 applies beginning with members of the General Assembly elected in the 2002 general election. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendments so certified among the permanent records of that office.
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.