THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1563
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IV, SECTION 2, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ADD two MEMBERS TO THE REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION TO REPRESENT CITIZEN ORGANIZATIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to article IV, section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to add two members to the reapportionment commission to represent citizen organizations.

SECTION 2. Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION

Section 2. A reapportionment commission shall be constituted on or before May 1 of each reapportionment year and whenever reapportionment is required by court order. The commission shall consist of [nine] eleven members. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each select two members. Members of each house belonging to the party or parties different from that of the president or the speaker shall designate one of their number for each house and the two so designated shall each select two members of the commission. The chief justice shall select two members to represent citizen organizations. The [eight] ten members so selected, promptly after selection, shall be certified by the selecting authorities to the chief election officer and within thirty days thereafter, shall select, by a vote of [six] seven members, and promptly certify to the chief election officer the [ninth] eleventh member who shall serve as chairperson of the commission.

Each of the four legislative officials designated above as selecting authorities for [the] eight members of the commission, at the time of the commission selections, shall also select one person from each basic island unit to serve on an apportionment advisory council for that island unit. The councils shall remain in existence during the life of the commission and each shall serve in an advisory capacity to the commission for matters affecting its island unit.

A vacancy in the commission or a council shall be filled by the initial selecting authority within fifteen days after the vacancy occurs. Commission and council positions and vacancies not filled within the times specified shall be filled promptly thereafter by the supreme court.

The commission shall act by majority vote of its membership and shall establish its own procedures, except as may be provided by law.

Not more than one hundred fifty days from the date on which its members are certified, the commission shall file with the chief election officer a reapportionment plan for the state legislature and a reapportionment plan for the United States congressional districts, which shall become law after publication as provided by law. Members of the commission shall hold office until each reapportionment plan becomes effective or until such time as may be provided by law.

No member of the reapportionment commission or an apportionment advisory council shall be eligible to become a candidate for election to either house of the legislature or to the United States House of Representatives in either of the first two elections under any such reapportionment plan.

Commission and apportionment advisory council members shall be compensated and reimbursed for their necessary expenses as provided by law.

The chief election officer shall be secretary of the commission without vote and, under the direction of the commission, shall furnish all necessary technical services. The legislature shall appropriate funds to enable the commission to carry out its duties."

SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall the reapportionment commission be expanded from nine to eleven members, with the additional two members representing citizen organizations and appointed by the chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court?"

SECTION 4. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Reapportionment Commission; Constitutional Amendment

Description:

Proposes a constitutional amendment to add two members to the Reapportionment Commission, representing citizen organizations, to be appointed by the Chief Justice.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.