Senate Bill No. 75

Introduced By sprague

A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act submitting to the qualified electors of Montana an amendment to Article V, section 6, of the Montana Constitution to provide for annual ANNUAL 45-day legislative sessions EACH YEAR; requiring the session in each odd-numbered year to adopt a balanced budget for the ensuing biennium; LIMITING THE MATTERS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED IN EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; PROHIBITING A BILL INTRODUCED IN ONE SESSION FROM BEING CARRIED OVER TO ANY OTHER SESSION OF THAT LEGISLATURE; and providing an immediate effective date."

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:

Section 1.  Article V, section 6, of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended to read:

"Section 6.  Sessions. (1) The legislature shall meet each odd-numbered year in regular session of not more than 90 45 legislative days. The session in each odd-numbered year shall adopt a balanced budget for the ensuing biennium. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, THE SESSION IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS IS LIMITED TO CONSIDERATION OF GENERAL LEGISLATION NOT RELATED TO REVENUE OR APPROPRIATIONS, AND THE SESSION IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS IS LIMITED TO CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION RELATING TO REVENUE OR APPROPRIATIONS. THE LEGISLATURE MAY ADOPT RULES PERMITTING CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION UNRELATED TO THE SUBJECT LIMITATIONS OF THIS SECTION. A BILL INTRODUCED IN ONE SESSION MAY NOT BE CARRIED OVER TO ANY OTHER SESSION OF THAT LEGISLATURE.

(2) Any legislature may increase the limit on the length of any subsequent session. The legislature may be convened in special sessions by the governor or at the written request of a majority of the members."

NEW SECTION. Section 2.  Effective date. This amendment is effective on approval by the electorate.

NEW SECTION. Section 3.  Submission to electorate. This amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana at the general election to be held in November 1998 by printing on the ballot the full title of this act and the following:

[] FOR annual 45-day legislative sessions, with the odd-numbered year session required to adopt a balanced budget for the ensuing biennium.

[] AGAINST annual 45-day legislative sessions, with the odd-numbered year session required to adopt a balanced budget for the ensuing biennium.

[] FOR REQUIRING THE LEGISLATURE TO MEET EACH YEAR, WITH LIMITATIONS ON LEGISLATIVE DAYS AND BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED.

[] AGAINST REQUIRING THE LEGISLATURE TO MEET EACH YEAR, WITH LIMITATIONS ON LEGISLATIVE DAYS AND BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED.

[] FOR ANNUAL 45-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, WITH THE ODD-NUMBERED YEAR SESSION REQUIRED TO ADOPT A BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING BIENNIUM.

[] AGAINST ANNUAL 45-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, WITH THE ODD-NUMBERED YEAR SESSION REQUIRED TO ADOPT A BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING BIENNIUM.

  -END-