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SJ0001 • 2022

Redistricting commission.

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution to implement a redistricting commission that would be responsible for apportioning legislative districts based on the decennial census of the United States.

Elections
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senator Gierau
Last action
2022-02-18
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2022

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes details about the composition of the commission that are not explicitly stated in the provided official material.

Redistricting Commission Proposal

This proposal aims to amend the Wyoming Constitution by creating a redistricting commission responsible for drawing legislative district boundaries based on the U.S. decennial census.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes an amendment to create a redistricting commission in the Wyoming Constitution.
  • Establishes that the commission will consist of five members appointed by different state officials, ensuring diversity and impartiality.
  • Requires the commission to draw district boundaries for both house and senate districts based on population data from the U.S. decennial census.
  • Sets rules for how the districts should be drawn, including size, compactness, and socio-economic integration.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Wyoming Legislature
  • Residents of Wyoming who vote in elections

Terms To Know

Redistricting Commission
A group appointed to draw new boundaries for legislative districts based on population changes.
Decennial Census
The official count of the U.S. population that happens every ten years.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This proposal did not pass during its session.
  • It is unclear how many people would support or oppose this amendment in a public vote.
  • The exact impact on current district boundaries cannot be determined without the commission's work.

Bill History

  1. 2022-02-18 Senate

    S Failed Introduction 9-21-0-0-0

  2. 2022-02-14 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2022-02-11 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
22LSO-0355
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0355
Numbered
2.0

Senate Joint Resolution NO. SJ0001

Redistricting commission.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Gierau and Hicks and Representative(s) Barlow

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution to implement a redistricting commission that would be responsible for apportioning legislative districts based on the decennial census of the United States.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:

Section 1.

The following proposal to amend Wyoming Constitution, Article 3, Section 48 and to repeal Wyoming Constitution, Article 3, Section 3 is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the next general
election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:

Article 3, Section 48.

State census; legislative apportionment; redistricting commission.

(a)

At the first budget session of the legislature
Not more than ninety (90) days
following the
receipt of the official reporting of the
federal census,
the legislature
a redistricting commission
shall reapportion
its membership
the districts of the legislature
based upon that census
as provided in this section
.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, any bill to apportion the legislature may be introduced in a budget session in the same manner as in a general session.

(b)

The redistricting commission shall establish sixty (60) house districts, with each house district to elect one (1) member of the house of representatives. The commission shall establish thirty (30) senate districts, each composed
of two (2) house districts, with each senate district to elect one (1) senator.

(c)

The redistricting commission shall establish the size and area of house districts subject to the limitations of this section. Each house district shall be formed of contiguous and compact territory containing as nearly as practicable a relatively integrated socio-economic area. Each house district shall contain a population as near as practicable to the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the state by sixty (60). In no case shall the population in any district be more or less than five percent (5%) different from the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the state by sixty (60). In developing districts, consideration shall be given to county and other local government boundaries.

(d)

The redistricting commission shall consist of five (5) members, all of whom shall have been residents and qualified electors of the state for not less than (1) year preceding their appointment to the commission and none of whom shall be public employees or persons who hold a public
office at the time of or during the tenure of appointment. No member shall accept appointment to the commission unless the member first agrees that the member will not be a candidate for the legislature in the two (2) general elections following adoption of the final redistricting plan. Commission members shall be compensated. Appointments shall be made without regard to political affiliation not later than September 1 of the year in which a decennial census of the United States is conducted. The governor shall appoint two (2) members of the commission. The president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the chief justice of the supreme court shall each appoint one (1) member of the commission. Commission members shall serve until a final plan for redistricting has been adopted by the commission and all challenges brought under this section have been resolved after final remand or affirmation.

(e)

The commission shall elect one (1) of its members as chairperson and may employ temporary assistants to complete the work of the commission. The concurrence of three (3) members of the redistricting commission shall be required
for official actions of the commission, but a lesser number may conduct hearings.

(f)

Within thirty (30) days after the official reporting of the decennial census of the United States, the redistricting commission shall adopt one (1) or more proposed redistricting plans. The commission shall hold public hearings on the proposed plan or plans. Not later than ninety (90) days after the official reporting of the decennial census of the United States, the commission shall adopt a final redistricting plan. The final plan adopted by the commission shall set out boundaries of house and senate districts and shall be effective for the election of members of the legislature until a subsequent plan is adopted under this section after the official reporting of the next decennial census of the United States. Adoption of the final redistricting plan shall require the affirmative votes of at least three (3) members of the redistricting commission.

(g)

Any qualified voter may apply to the Laramie county district court to compel the redistricting commission, by mandamus or otherwise, to perform its duties under this
article or to correct any error in redistricting. Application to compel the commission to perform shall be filed not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the ninety (90) day period specified in subsection (f) of this section. Application to compel the correction of any error in redistricting shall be filed within thirty (30) days after the adoption of the final redistricting plan by the commission. Appeals from district court decisions under this subsection shall be allowed to the supreme court. All dispositions by the district court and the supreme court under this subsection shall be expedited and shall have priority over all other matters pending before the respective court. Upon a final judicial decision that a plan is incorrect or invalid, the matter shall be returned to the commission for correction or development of a new plan. If the new or corrected plan is declared invalid, the matter may be referred again to the commission.

Section 2.

Wyoming Constitution, Article 3, Section 3 is repealed.

Section 3.

That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:

The adoption of this amendment would create a redistricting commission for the redistricting of the legislature after each decennial census of the United States. The amendment would specify the composition and duties of the redistricting commission. The commission would be required to apportion the state legislature based on the census into sixty (60) house districts and thirty (30) senate districts. The decisions of the commission would be appealable to the Wyoming supreme court.

The adoption of this amendment would repeal conflicting provisions requiring apportionment of the legislature to include at least one (1) senator and one (1) representative for each county.

(END)

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