CONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT: REQUIRE VOTE ON PAY RAISES FOR STATE OFFICERS
House Joint Resolution B
Sponsor: Rep. Doug Spade
Committee: House Oversight and Operations
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION B AS INTRODUCED 1-31-01
Currently, under Article IV, Section 13 of the state constitution, the State Officers Compensation Commission (SOCC) determines the salaries and expense allowances of the members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the justices of the state supreme court. Unless the legislature adopts, by a two-thirds majority of the members elected to and serving in each house, a concurrent resolution rejecting the salaries and expense allowances proposed by the SOCC, the salaries and expense allowances are implemented.
The joint resolution would amend the state constitution to require a majority vote of each house of the legislature to approve any salary raise proposed by the State Officers Compensation Commission, and any such raise would be effective only for the following legislative session.
More specifically, the joint resolution would place before the voters at the next general elections an amendment to Article IV, Section 12 of the state constitution that would do all of the following:
· Require the legislature, by a concurrent resolution adopted by a majority of the members elected to and serving in each house of the legislature, to approve any salary and expense determination made by the State Officers Compensation Commission;
· Specify that any salary and expense determinations approved by the legislature become effective for the legislative session immediately following the next general election; and
· Add the attorney general and the secretary of state to the list of state officers for whom the SOCC determined salaries and expense allowances.
Finally, the SOCC currently is constitutionally required to meet every two years for not more than 15 session days. The bill would amend this provision to say that "except as otherwise provided by the legislature" the commission would meet every two years for not more than 15 session days.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.