In 2013, the legislature passed Laws 2013, chapter 124, that proposes a constitutional amendment to voters in 2016 to remove legislators' power to set their own salaries and to establish a council to set salaries for legislators. This bill amends that law, as to the proposed amendment to the Constitution and as to the ballot question to be put to voters in 2016. This bill also includes enabling legislation governing the council.
Section 1 [Legislative Salary Council] is enabling legislation to establish a Legislative Salary Council to set salaries for legislators. The members of the council cannot be a current or former legislator, the spouse of a current legislator, a current or former lobbyist, or a current employee of the legislature. This section will go into effect if the constitutional amendment is adopted by voters in 2016.
Section 2 [Constitutional Amendment Proposed] amends the proposed constitutional amendment to add people (spouse of a current legislator and an employee of the legislature) to the list of those who are not allowed to serve on the Legislative Salary Council. Repeals any pay increases authorized by the legislature after January 5, 2015.
Section 3 [Schedule and Question] changes the wording on the ballot question and adds a specified title for the ballot question in 2016. The title will be "Remove Lawmakers' Power to Set Their Own Pay."
Sections 2 and 3 are effective August 1, 2014. (This effective date does not change the date - 2016 - when this question will be on the ballot.)
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