Ohio Constitutional MODERNIZATION Commission

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Want to vote NO on Ohio’s Issue 1? Think about it – you will not have the opportunity to address this issue for another twenty years.

The following is the Enrolled, the final version passed by the Ohio General Assembly and presented to the Governor for signature, version of the Ohio’s Amended House Bill #188.  It became effective 10/17/2011.
Among the co-sponsors – Gayle Manning and Dan Ramos.


“The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission was established in R.C. 103.61 with the passage of the House Bill 188. The Commission is modeled after the 1970s Ohio Constitutional Revision Commission, whose published recommendations may be accessed at;
http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/ocrc/


AN ACT (129th General Assembly)
(Amended House Bill Number 188)
To enact sections 103.61, 103.62, 103.63, 103.64, 103.65, 103.66, and 103.67 of the Revised Code to establish the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
SECTION 1. That sections 103.61, 103.62, 103.63, 103.64, 103.65, 103.66, and 103.67 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 103.61.  The members of the Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall meet for the purpose of:
(A) Studying the Constitution of Ohio;
(B) Promoting an exchange of experiences and suggestions respecting desired changes in the Constitution; (who is desiring what changes??)
(C) Considering the problems pertaining to the amendment of the Constitution;
(D) Making recommendations from time to time to the general assembly for the amendment of the Constitution.
A commission recommendation is void unless it receives a two-thirds vote of the membership of the commission.

Sec. 103.62.  In the event of a call for a constitutional convention, the Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall report to the general assembly its recommendations with respect to the organization of a convention, and report to the convention its recommendations with respect to amendment of the Constitution. (they will help organize the Ohio Constitutional Convention if Issue 1 passes with a majority of YES votes)

Sec. 103.63.  There is established an Ohio constitutional modernization commission consisting of thirty-two members. Twelve members shall be appointed from the general assembly as follows: three by the president of the senate, three by the minority leader of the senate, three by the speaker of the house of representatives, and three by the minority leader of the house of representatives. Not later than January 1, 2012, and every two years thereafter, the twelve general assembly members shall meet, organize, and elect two co-chairpersons, who shall be from different political parties. The members shall then, by majority vote, appoint twenty commission members, not from the general assembly. All appointments shall end on the first day of January of every even-numbered year, and the commission shall then be re-created in the manner provided above. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. (12 elected members and 20 appointed members)

The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while engaging in the performance of the member’s official duties. Membership on the commission does not constitute holding another public office.

Sec. 103.64.  The Ohio constitutional modernization commission may receive appropriations and grants, gifts, bequests, and devises and may expend any funds received in such a manner for the purpose of reimbursing members for actual and necessary expenses incurred while engaged in official duties, or for the purpose of meeting expenses incurred in any special research or study relating to the Constitution of Ohio. The commission shall file annually with the auditor of state, on or before the fifteenth day of March, a full report of all grants, gifts, bequests, and devises received during the preceding calendar year, stating the date when each was received and the purpose for which the funds received therefrom were expended. (Can anyone say “lobbyists”? Notice they do not report their receipt of monies for a year!)

Sec. 103.65.  The Ohio constitutional modernization commission may employ professional, technical, and clerical employees as may be required successfully and efficiently to carry out the purposes of the commission. Funds for the compensation and reimbursement of employees shall be paid from the state treasury out of funds appropriated for the purpose. All disbursements of the commission shall be by voucher approved by one of the co-chairpersons of the commission. (taxpayer funded staff)

Sec. 103.66.  The Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall make its first report to the general assembly not later than January 1, 2013. Thereafter, it shall report at least every two years until its work is completed.

Sec. 103.67.  The Ohio constitutional modernization commission shall complete its work on or before July 1, 2021, and shall cease to exist at that time. The terms of all members shall expire July 1, 2021. (unless this section changes prior to 2021)

If you do not think you are over taxed and under represented; ask yourself, “Am I content to have elected legislators give away the authority I entrusted to them to non-elected persons??”

This content provided courtesy of Politics are Personal. Contact the author at PoliticsArePersonal (AT) Gmail (DOT) Com