SOCC: SALARY DETERMINATIONS
House Joint Resolution J
Sponsor: Rep. Jerry Vander Roest
Committee: House Oversight and Operations
Complete to 2-23-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION J AS INTRODUCED 2-22-01
Currently, under Article IV, Section 12 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. (Under Public Act 357 of 1968, which implements these provisions of the constitution, the salary and expense determinations take effect January 1 of the year following their filing, unless rejected by the legislature prior to February 1 of that year.)
The joint resolution would amend the constitution to specify that the SOCC determinations would take effect only if approved by the legislature by concurrent resolution adopted by a majority of the members of each house. Further, the resolution would specify that the legislature could amend the salary and expense determinations of the SOCC to reduce one or more of the determinations. If the legislature approved one or more of the SOCC determinations, they would take effect for the legislative session immediately following the next general election. The resolution would also specify that the SOCC would determine the salaries and expense allowances of the attorney general and the secretary of state, and would specify that the legislature could, by law, provide for the commission to meeting for more than 15 session days.
The joint resolution would be submitted to the voters at the next general election, if two-thirds of the members elected to and serving in each house of the legislature approved the resolution.
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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.