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Show Voter Proposal Would Streamline Operation of Utah's Legislature Editor's Note This is the second in a series of 5 articles on the four amendments amend-ments to the Utah Constitution Constitu-tion which Utah voters will be asked to vote upon Nov. 7. Proposition No. 1 has been placed on the ballot as a result re-sult of recommendations by Utah's Constitutional Revision Revis-ion Commission. It reads as follows: Proposition No. 1: Legislative Legis-lative Article Revision Shall Article VI of the Stale Constitution be revised to make changes in the procedure proced-ure and manner of operation of the State Legislature and the Legislative branch of state government, including' the law-making rules cind procedure? pro-cedure? (The present law and the proposed revision will be on cards in the polling poll-ing places and booths). This amendment proposes four significant types of changes chan-ges in the legislative article of the Utah Constitution. They are: (1) adding three new sections designed to in crease legislative effective-nes, effective-nes, (2) modernizing certain cer-tain legislative procedures, (3) clarifying ambiguous pro-..., visions, and (4) removing un ! necessary detail and dead-wood. dead-wood. Three new sections are proposed to increase legislative legisla-tive effectiveness: (1) A legislative auditor is . empowered to perform audits of any subdivision of state government. This section for the first time provides the means for the Legislature to follow pub- lie funds beyond their appropriation appro-priation and, in fact, become the "watchdog" of the public pub-lic purse that the constitution constitu-tion requires. Proponents of this measure stress that it is particularly important that the Legislate-perform its role in ai33-iting ai33-iting state expenditures, in view of the recent Utah Su-preme Su-preme 'Court ' decision which names the State Auditor as the . only .officer authorized to disburse public funds. (2) The Legislature is authorized au-thorized to retain legal counsel coun-sel separate from the Attorney At-torney .General's . office. This measure strengthens the separation . of powers principal already a vital part of ,the Utah Constitution. The Legislature will still be allowed al-lowed to call upon the Altor- ney General for legal assistance assis-tance if it is needed. (3) Legisators are permitted permit-ted per diem compensation not to exceed the rcgula'r session rate for attendance at meetings of interim committees com-mittees established by law. Modernizing Procedures (1) Bills and joint resolutions resolu-tions may be read three times tim-es by title instead of in their entirety. The requirement may be suspended by a two-thirds two-thirds vote. This modifies the constitution to correspond more closely to the actual practice required by a heavy workload and the 60-day 'session. 'ses-sion. (2) Bills and joint resolutions resolu-tions may be signed and certified cer-tified by the Speaker and the President within five days following adjournment in Jieu f of during open session. This change is to allow time m open session to be spent on business wnich involves the entire body. , Clarifying Provisions (1) The language used to ; stagger terms of senators is clarified. . (2) The time by which s candidate for the Legislature must meet the requirement . is clarified. Present provis- . ions are unclear as to the eligibility eli-gibility date. ; . . (3) The date on which Is's 1 become effective is made de- i finite. The effective date presently pre-sently is linked with the p"0' -( hcation date, making a var- . iation in the dates on w"'l'n f laws become effective. Smc' it is also unclear what con- stitutes publication, the problem pro-blem is compounded. |