SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 53
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BARTLE.
Read 1st time February 19, 2002, and 1000 copies ordered printed.
TED WEDEL, Chief Clerk
JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment repealing sections 20, 20(a), and 22 of article III of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting three new sections in lieu thereof relating to regular sessions of the general assembly.
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2002, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article III of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:
Section A. Sections 20, 20(a), and 22, article III, Constitution of Missouri, are repealed and three new sections adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 20, 20(a), and 22, to read as follows:
Section 20. The general assembly shall meet on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in [January] February following each general election. The general assembly may provide by law for the introduction of bills during the period between the first day of [December] January and the first Wednesday after the first Monday of [January] February.
The general assembly shall reconvene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of [January] February after adjournment at midnight on May thirtieth of the preceding year. A majority of the elected members of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. The sessions of each house shall be held with open doors, except in cases which may require secrecy but not including the final vote on bills, resolutions and confirmations. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than ten days at any one time, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses may be sitting.
The Missouri citizen's commission on compensation for elected officials established pursuant to article XIII of this constitution shall provide for the proportionate reduction in compensation for members of the general assembly by reason of the legislative sessions convening the first Wednesday after the first Monday in February.
Section 20(a). The general assembly shall adjourn at midnight on May thirtieth until the first Wednesday after the first Monday of [January] February of the following year, unless it has adjourned prior thereto. All bills in either house remaining on the calendar after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May are tabled. The period between the first Friday following the second Monday in May and May thirtieth shall be devoted to the enrolling, engrossing, and the signing in open session by officers of the respective houses of bills passed prior to 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May.
The general assembly shall automatically stand adjourned sine die at 6:00 p.m. on the sixtieth calendar day after the date of its convening in special session unless it has adjourned sine die prior thereto.
Section 22. Every bill shall be referred to a committee of the house in which it is pending. After it has been referred to a committee, one-third of the elected members of the respective houses shall have power to relieve a committee of further consideration of a bill and place it on the calendar for consideration. Each committee shall keep such record of its proceedings as is required by rule of the respective houses and this record and the recorded vote of the members of the committee shall be filed with all reports on bills.
Each house of the general assembly may provide by rule for such committees of that house as it deems necessary to meet to
consider bills or to perform any other necessary legislative function during the interim between the session ending on the
thirtieth day of May and the session commencing on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of [January]
February.
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