2005 SESSION

05-0183

06/10

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 5

RELATING TO: the size of the house of representatives and compensation of the legislature.

PROVIDING THAT: the number of representatives be reduced to 100 and that compensation shall be an average daily wage of the citizens of the state.

SPONSORS: Rep. T. Robertson, Ches 3; Rep. Anna Tilton, Ches 6; Rep. Pratt, Ches 2; Rep. Weed, Ches 3

COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution:

I. Reduces the number of representatives in the house of representatives to 100; and

II. Changes the compensation of the legislature to an average daily wage of the citizens of the state for each day.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05-0183

06/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO: the size of the house of representatives and compensation of the legislature.

PROVIDING THAT: the number of representatives be reduced to 100 and that compensation shall be an average daily wage of the citizens of the state.

Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the

Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That article 9 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

[Art.] 9. [Representatives Elected Every Second Year; Apportionment of Representatives.] There shall be in the legislature of this state a house of representatives, biennially elected and founded on principles of equality, and representation therein shall be as equal as circumstances will admit. The whole number of representatives to be chosen from the towns, wards, places, and representative districts thereof established hereunder, shall be [not less than three hundred seventy-five or more than four] one hundred. As soon as possible after the convening of the next regular session of the legislature, and at the session in 1971, and every [ten] 10 years thereafter, the legislature shall make an apportionment of representatives according to the last general census of the inhabitants of the state taken by authority of the United States or of this state. In making such apportionment, no town, ward or place shall be divided nor the boundaries thereof altered.

II. That article 15 of the second part of the constitution, be amended to read as follows:

[Art.] 15^th. [Compensation of the Legislature.] The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature, shall severally receive out of the state treasury as compensation in full for their services for the term elected [the sum of $250] an average daily wage of the citizens of the state for each day, and all other members thereof, seasonably attending and not departing without license, [the sum of $200] an average daily wage of the citizens of the state for each day and each member shall receive mileage for actual daily attendance on legislative days, but not after the legislature shall have been in session for 45 legislative days or after the first day of July following the annual assembly of the legislature, whichever occurs first; provided, however, that, when a special session shall be called by the governor or by a 2/3 vote of the then qualified members of each branch of the general court, such officers and members shall receive for attendance an additional compensation of [$3] an average daily wage of the citizens of the state for each day for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage. Nothing herein shall prevent the payment of additional mileage to members attending committee meetings or on other legislative business on nonlegislative days.

III. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2006.

IV. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2006 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2005 session of the general court shall be approved.

V. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:

“Are you in favor of amending the Constitution to provide that the size of the house of representatives shall be reduced to 100 and that the article prescribing the compensation of the legislature be changed to an average daily wage of the citizens of the state by amending article 9 and article 15 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:

[Art.] 9. [Representatives Elected Every Second Year; Apportionment of Representatives.] There shall be in the legislature of this state a house of representatives, biennially elected and founded on principles of equality, and representation therein shall be as equal as circumstances will admit. The whole number of representatives to be chosen from the towns, wards, places, and representative districts thereof established hereunder, shall be one hundred. As soon as possible after the convening of the next regular session of the legislature, and at the session in 1971, and every 10 years thereafter, the legislature shall make an apportionment of representatives according to the last general census of the inhabitants of the state taken by authority of the United States or of this state. In making such apportionment, no town, ward or place shall be divided nor the boundaries thereof altered.

[Art.] 15^th. [Compensation of the Legislature.] The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature, shall severally receive out of the state treasury as compensation in full for their services for the term elected an average daily wage of the citizens of the state for each day, and all other members thereof, seasonably attending and not departing without license, an average daily wage of the citizens of the state for each day and each member shall receive mileage for actual daily attendance on legislative days, but not after the legislature shall have been in session for 45 legislative days or after the first day of July following the annual assembly of the legislature, whichever occurs first; provided, however, that, when a special session shall be called by the governor or by a 2/3 vote of the then qualified members of each branch of the general court, such officers and members shall receive for attendance an additional compensation of an average daily wage of the citizens of the state for each day for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage. Nothing herein shall prevent the payment of additional mileage to members attending committee meetings or on other legislative business on nonlegislative days.”

VI. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2005 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.

VII. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.