Brief Description: Amending the Constitution to allow for adjournment after cutoff during the regular session.

Sponsors: Senators Morton and Brown.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/8/05, 2/24/05 [DP-WM, DNP].

Ways & Means: 3/4/05.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Fairley, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member and Benton.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)

Background: Regular legislative sessions, in odd-numbered years, are not more than one hundred five consecutive days. Sessions during even-numbered years are not more than sixty consecutive days. During any session, neither house can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the opposite house.

Summary of Bill: During each odd-numbered year, the regular session must not be more than one hundred fifteen consecutive days. During each even-numbered year, the regular session must not be more than seventy consecutive days. During each regular session, the legislature must adjourn for ten days after the last day on which the legislature is allowed to consider bills in their house of origin.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill allows members, who travel long distances to be here, to go back to their constituents and discuss the proposed legislation that has made it through the first part of the legislative process by passing out of the house of origin. This adjournment period allows us to have town meetings, or other forums that enable us to hear what our constituents have to say about the legislation thus far.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Morton, prime sponsor.