SB119 By Senators Pittman and Hightower RFD Governmental Affairs Rd 1 02-FEB-16

SYNOPSIS: This bill proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that commencing January 1, 2018, the legislative authority of the state shall be vested in a unicameral legislature consisting of one chamber known as the Alabama Unicameral Legislature.

This amendment would provide for the establishment of districts, initial and subsequent terms of office, vacancies, qualifications, and presiding officers.

This amendment would authorize the current Legislature, by general law, to provide for the election, operation, and functioning of the Alabama Unicameral Legislature.

This amendment would also abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor and would provide that the State Treasurer would be first in the line of succession to the office of Governor in the event of a vacancy.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that commencing January 1, 2018, the legislative authority of the state shall be vested in a unicameral legislature consisting of one chamber known as the Alabama Unicameral Legislature; to provide for the establishment of districts, initial and subsequent terms of office, vacancies, qualifications, presiding officers, and transitional authority and action; to abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor; and to provide that the State Treasurer is first in the line of succession to the office of Governor in the event of a vacancy.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, is proposed and shall become valid as a part thereof when approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon and in accordance with Sections 284, 285, and 287 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

(a) The day after the General Election in 2018, the legislative authority of the state shall be vested in a unicameral legislature consisting of one chamber to be known as the Alabama Unicameral Legislature.

(b)(1) The Alabama Unicameral Legislature shall consist of 105 members elected from the 105 House of Representative districts in existence on January 1, 2016.

(2) Members of the Alabama Unicameral Legislature shall be at least 21 years of age at the time of election and shall satisfy the same qualifications required of members of the Legislature as constituted on the date of ratification of this amendment.

(3) Members of the Alabama Unicameral Legislature shall be elected at the same time, in the same manner, and serve for the same terms as members of the Legislature as constituted on the date of ratification of this amendment.

(4) Vacancies in office of a member of the Alabama Unicameral Legislature shall be filled in the same manner as provided for members of the Legislature as constituted on the date of ratification of this amendment.

(c)(1) The Alabama Unicameral Legislature, at the beginning of each regular session, and at such other times as may be necessary, shall elect one of its members Speaker and one of its members Speaker Pro Tempore. The Speaker shall preside over deliberations of the body and shall have no right to vote except in the event of a tie. The Speaker Pro Tempore shall preside over deliberations of the body in the absence of the Speaker.

(2) The Speaker and the Speaker Pro Tempore shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified.

(3) The Alabama Unicameral Legislature shall choose its own officers and judge the election, returns, and qualifications of its members.

(4) A three-fifths vote of the membership of the Alabama Unicameral Legislature shall be necessary to override the veto of the Governor.

(d) The Legislature, as constituted before the General Election in 2018, by general law or proposed constitutional amendment, shall provide further for the implementation of this amendment and for the election, operation, and functioning of the Alabama Unicameral Legislature as constituted after the General Election in 2018.

(e) The office of Lieutenant Governor shall be abolished on the day after the General Election in 2018. On and after that date, the State Treasurer shall be first in line to succeed to the office of Governor in the event of the removal from office, death, or resignation of the Governor.

(f)(1) Other provisions of this constitution shall be read in pari materia with this amendment when possible.

(2) Reference to the Legislature, Senate, House of Representatives, or House in this constitution or other law, commencing on the day after the General Election in 2018, shall mean the Alabama Unicameral Legislature as constituted on that date when applicable.

(3) If any other provision of this constitution is in conflict with this amendment, this amendment is controlling.

Section 2. An election upon the proposed amendment shall be held in accordance with Sections 284 and 285 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Sections 284 and 285 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, and the election laws of this state.

Section 3. The appropriate election official shall assign a ballot number for the proposed constitutional amendment on the election ballot and shall set forth the following description of the substance or subject matter of the proposed constitutional amendment:

"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to specify that beginning the day after the General Election in 2018, the legislative authority of the state shall be vested in a unicameral legislature consisting of one chamber known as the Alabama Unicameral Legislature, to abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor, to provide that the State Treasurer is first in line to succeed to the office of Governor in the event of a vacancy in the office, and to provide transitional authority and action.

"Proposed by Act ________."

This description shall be followed by the following language:

"Yes ( ) No ( )."

Constitutional Amendments

Elections

Court, Supreme

Legislature

Redistricting

Unicameral Legislature