In 2013, the legislature passed Laws 2013, chapter 124, that proposes a constitutional amendment to voters in 2016 to remove legislator’s authority to set their own salaries and to give that authority to a council of people who are not current or former legislators or lobbyists.

This bill is enabling legislation to set up the Legislative Salary Council.  Some of its provisions are copied from the text of the proposed constitutional amendment :  Appointments will be made by the governor and the chief justice of the Supreme Court for each congressional district, with certain restrictions relating to political party membership; that no legislators or lobbyists can serve on the commission; and that the commissioner must prescribe salaries for legislators by March 31 of each odd-numbered year to take effect July 1 of that year.

This bill expands the list of those not allowed to serve on the council to the followingl:

• Current or former legislators, or the spouse or former spouse of a current or former legislator;
• A current or former lobbyist, or a current or former spouse of a current or former lobbyist
• A current or former employee of the legislature, or a current or former spouse of an employee of the legislature

The bill establishes additional details for establishing and operating of the council, including setting terms, conditions for removal and the filling of vacancies, compensation for members, a requirement that the council describe the council’s rationale for selecting the prescribed salaries, and a requirement that the Legislative Coordinating Commission provide administration and support services for the council.

This section is effective on adoption of the constitutional amendment proposed under Laws 2013, chapter 124.

SJJ/rdr