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2019 SESSION

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HJ 615 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission (first reference).

Introduced by: Mark L. Cole (by request) | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; Virginia Redistricting Commission. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission, a 16-member Commission tasked with establishing districts for the United States House of Representatives and for the Senate and the House of Delegates of the General Assembly. The Commission consists of eight legislative members and eight citizen members. The legislative members consist of four members of the Senate of Virginia and four members of the House of Delegates, with equal representation given to the political parties having the highest and next highest number of members in their respective houses. The citizen members are selected by a selection committee consisting of five retired judges of the circuit courts of Virginia, from lists submitted to the selection committee by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the leader in the House of Delegates of the political party having the next highest number of members in the House of Delegates, the President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia, and the leader in the Senate of the political party having the next highest number of members in the Senate. The Commission is required to submit to the General Assembly plans of districts for the Senate and the House of Delegates of the General Assembly no later than 45 days following the receipt of census data and plans of districts for the United States House of Representatives no later than 60 days following the receipt of census data, or July 1 of that year, whichever occurs later. The measure requires certain vote thresholds for plans, depending on the type of district, in order to be submitted to the General Assembly. No amendments may be made to a plan by the General Assembly or the Governor. The measure requires additional plans to be submitted, or additional time to be given to submit a plan, in certain circumstances, and further provides that districts will be drawn by the Supreme Court of Virginia if such efforts fail.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; state and local independent redistricting commissions; criteria. Requires the establishment of independent redistricting commissions by the General Assembly and the governing bodies of each county, city, or town in which members of the governing body are elected from districts. The Virginia Independent Redistricting Commission is required to be convened for the purpose of proposing districts for the United States House of Representatives and for the Senate and House of Delegates. The Commission shall consist of twelve commissioners, four to be appointed by the Governor, four to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and four to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. Equal representation shall be given to the two major political parties. Congressional district plans must receive an affirmative vote of eight of the twelve commissioners in order to be submitted to the General Assembly for a vote. Senate district plans must receive an affirmative vote of three of the four commissioners appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules in order to be submitted to the Senate for a vote. House of Delegates district plans must receive an affirmative vote of three of the four commissioners appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in order to be submitted to the House of Delegates for a vote. Plans may not be amended by the General Assembly or the respective body and are not subject to amendment, approval, or veto by the Governor. If a plan is rejected by the General Assembly or the respective body, the Commission is required to submit a new plan for consideration and if that plan is rejected, the districts shall be established by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Congressional and legislative districts are to be established in accordance with certain criteria set out in the amendment.

The independent redistricting commissions established by the governing body of each county, city, and town in which members of the governing body are elected from districts will consist of four members, with equal representation given to the political parties, and will be responsible for submitting to its governing body proposed plans for local electoral districts. A proposed plan submitted to a governing body shall, if enacted, be done so in accordance with law.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; state and local independent redistricting commissions. Requires the establishment of independent redistricting commissions by the General Assembly and the governing bodies of each county, city, or town in which members of the governing body are elected from districts. The purpose of these independent redistricting commissions is to propose electoral districts following the decennial census. The independent redistricting commission established by the General Assembly will consist of eight members, with equal representation given to the political parties, and will be responsible for submitting to the General Assembly proposed plans for congressional and legislative electoral districts. A proposed plan submitted to the General Assembly shall be introduced as a bill, subject to constitutional requirements for the enactment of laws, but will not be subject to amendment or veto by the Governor. The independent redistricting commissions established by the governing body of each county, city, and town in which members of the governing body are elected from districts will consist of four members, with equal representation given to the political parties, and will be responsible for submitting to its governing body proposed plans for local electoral districts. A proposed plan submitted to a governing body shall, if enacted, be done so in accordance with law.