A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to amend the north carolina constitution to provide an earlier convening of the general assembly for organizational purposes, so as to allow increased efFiciency.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section 11(1) of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"(1)	Regular sessions. The General Assembly shall meet in regular session in  2006 and every two years thereafter on the first Wednesday in December. It shall meet for not more than three calendar days, and on the Friday after convening shall adjourn until the seventh Wednesday after it convened, it being the intent of this sentence to provide a three‑day organizational session. Neither house shall proceed upon public business unless a majority of all of its members are actually present."SECTION 2.  Section 9 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 9. Term of office.
The term of office of Senators and Representatives shall commence on the first Wednesday in December next after their election."
SECTION 3.  The amendments set out in Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the next statewide election, primary or otherwise, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ] FOR    [ ] AGAINST
Constitutional Amendment providing a December organizational session of the General Assembly, followed by adjournment for seven weeks."
SECTION 4.  If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendments set out in Sections 1 and 2 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendments to the Secretary of State whereupon the amendments shall become effective. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendments so certified among the permanent records of that office.
SECTION 5.  G.S. 120‑11.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 120‑11.1.  Time of meeting.
The regular session of the Senate and House of Representatives shall be held biennially beginning at 12:00 noon on the first Wednesday in December next after their election."
SECTION 6.  Section 5 of this act shall take effect only upon approval of the voters of the constitutional amendments set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this act. If the constitutional amendments proposed in Sections 1 and 2 of this act are approved by the voters, Section 5 of this act shall become effective at the same time as the constitutional amendments.
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.