HB197 Alabama 2016 Session

Currently, the state legislature meets annually in regular session for all legislative matters including annual budgets for all funds of the state. This bill proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 to provide for regular sessions of the legislature for non-budgetary matters and for fiscal sessions of the legislature for appropriations bills for a biennial budget period for all funds of the state, and to repeal Amendment 339 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 76 of Article IV of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of 1901, as amended, and Amendment 448 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 71.01 of Article IV of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended

To propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, in order to provide for annual regular sessions of the legislature for non-budgetary matters and for fiscal sessions of the legislature for appropriations bills for a biennial budget period for all funds of the state and to repeal Amendment 339 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901 now appearing as Section 76 of Article IV of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of 1901, as amended and Amendment 448 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 71.01 of Article IV of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901. 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 Section I. Beginning in the calendar year 2017, regular sessions of the legislature shall be held annually beginning on the last Tuesday in January, or on such other day as may be prescribed by law, and shall be limited to 20 legislative days and 70 calendar days. While in regular session, the legislature may consider any bill or resolution other than bills making appropriations. Beginning in the calendar year 2017, fiscal sessions of the legislature shall be held annually following the regular session, on the fourth Tuesday in April or other such day as may be prescribed by law, and shall be limited to 12 legislative days and 30 calendar days. While in fiscal session, the legislature shall consider only bills making basic appropriations for the two succeeding fiscal years or amending such bills as the Legislature shall determine. The basic appropriations in these bills shall