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General Assembly House Joint Resolution
No. 33
January Session, 2019
LCO No. 6138
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)
RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTION AL
AMENDMENT CONCERNING LENGTH OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
Resolved by this Assembly:
Section 1. That the following be proposed as an amendment to the 1
Constitution of the State, which, when approved and adopted in the 2
manner provided by the Constitution, shall, to all intents and 3
purposes, become a part thereof: 4
Article third of the amendments to the Constitution is amended to 5
read as follows: 6
There shall be a regular session of the general assembly convening 7
on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January in the odd-8
numbered years and on the Wednesday following the first Monday of 9
February in the even-numbered years, and at such other times as the 10
general assembly shall judge necessary, provided no regular session of 11
the general assembly shall exceed forty-five legislative days in 12
duration; but the person administering the office of governor may, on 13
special emergencies, convene the general assembly at any other time. 14
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All regular and special sessions of the general assembly shall be held at 15
Hartford, but the person administering the office of governor may, in 16
case of special emergency, convene the assembly at any other place in 17
the state. The general assembly shall adjourn each regular session [in 18
the odd-numbered years] not later than the [first Wednesday after the 19
first Monday in June and in the even-numbered years not later than 20
the first Wednesday after the first Monday in May] forty-fifth day after 21
convening, or if such day falls on a legal holiday or weekend, on the 22
next legislative day, and shall adjourn each special session upon 23
completion of its business. If any bill passed by any regular or special 24
session or any appropriation item described in Section 16 of Article 25
Fourth has been disapproved by the governor prior to its adjournment, 26
and has not been reconsidered by the assembly, or is so disapproved 27
after such adjournment, the secretary of the state shall reconvene the 28
general assembly on the second Monday after the last day on which 29
the governor is authorized to transmit or has transmitted every bill to 30
the secretary with his objections pursuant to Section 15 of Article 31
Fourth of this constitution, whichever occurs first; provided if such 32
Monday falls on a legal holiday the general assembly shall be 33
reconvened on the next following day. The reconvened session shall be 34
for the sole purpose of reconsidering and, if the assembly so desires, 35
repassing such bills. The general assembly shall adjourn sine die not 36
later than three days following its reconvening. In the even year 37
regular session the general assembly shall consider no business other 38
than budgetary, revenue and financial matters, bills and resolutions 39
raised by committees of the general assembly and those matters 40
certified in writing by the speaker of the house of representatives and 41
president pro tempore of the senate to be of an emergency nature. 42
Section 17 of article third of the Constitution is amended to read as 43
follows: 44
Sec. 17. The salary of the members of the general assembly and the 45
transportation expenses of its members in the performance of their 46
legislative duties shall be determined by law, provided such members 47
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shall not be eligible to receive fringe benefits, including insurance, 48
health, medical care and retirement benefits. 49
RESOLVED: That the foregoing proposed amendment to the 50
Constitution be continued to the next session of the General Assembly 51
elected at the general election to be held on November 3, 2020, and 52
published with the laws passed at the present session, or be presented 53
to the electors at the general election to be held on November 3, 2020, 54
whichever the case may be, according to article sixth of the 55
amendments to the Constitution. The designation of said proposed 56
amendment to be used on the ballots at such election shall be "Shall the 57
Constitution of the State be amended to (1) require regular sessions of 58
the General Assembly to adjourn not later than forty-five days after 59
convening, and (2) prohibit members of the General Assembly from 60
receiving fringe benefits?" 61
Co-Sponsors: REP. DUBITSKY, 47th Dist.; REP. DAUPHINAIS, 44th Dist.
H.J. 33