HJR 2 -- GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SPONSOR:  Long

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 14 to 4.

This proposed constitutional amendment, effective with the
election of members of the General Assembly in 2002:

(1)  Reduces the membership of the House from 163 to 103;

(2)  Increases the term of office for members of the House from
2 to 4 years and for members of the Senate from 4 to 6 years.
Staggered terms are established;

(3)  Changes the limit on number of years that a person can
serve in the House and the Senate from 8 in each to 12 in each,
with service prior to 1992 not counting toward the limit;

(4)  Limits the number of years a person can hold a specific
leadership position to 4; and

(5)  Limits the number of years that a person can serve as a
committee chair to 4.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue Fund of $169,500 in FY
2001.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that these changes to the state's
constitution would make the General Assembly function more
effectively.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Long.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Marty Romitti, Legislative Analyst

HJR 2 -- General Assembly

Sponsor:  Long

This proposed constitutional amendment, effective with the
election of members of the General Assembly in 2002:

(1)  Reduces the membership of the House from 163 to 103;

(2)  Increases the term of office for members of the House from
2 to 4 years and for members of the Senate from 4 to 6 years.
Staggered terms are established.

(3)  Changes the limit on number of years that a person can
serve in the House and the Senate from 8 in each to 12 in each,
with service prior to 1992 not counting toward the limit;

(4)  Limits the number of years a person can hold a specific
leadership position to 4; and

(5)  Limits the number of years that a person can serve as a
committee chair to 4.