Legislative and congressional redistricting (first consideration)

The amendment provides that the LRB must be strictly nonpartisan in preparing redistricting plans. In addition, no district may be drawn for the purpose of favoring a political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or other person or group, except to the extent necessary to comply with constitutional requirements and the federal Voting Rights Act, or for the purpose of diluting the voting strength of a language or racial minority group. Generally, in preparing the plan the LRB may not use political affiliations of registered voters, previous election results, or use residence addresses of incumbent legislators or members of Congress.

The amendment also provides that, if requested to do so by the LRB, the Redistricting Advisory Commission must provide direction to the LRB concerning any decision the LRB must make in preparing a redistricting plan for which there is no clearly applicable guideline. The commission must oversee the work of LRB employees engaged in preparing a redistricting plan and may enter into contracts for hiring experts to assist in plan preparation. In addition, the commission must conduct public hearings on a redistricting bill delivered by the LRB to the legislature and submit a report to the legislature summarizing information and testimony received by the commission at the hearings.

Finally, the amendment requires the LRB to deliver to the senate and assembly identical bills embodying a plan of legislative and congressional redistricting. The legislature must bring the bill to a vote expeditiously, but not less than seven days after the report of the Redistricting Advisory Commission is received and made available to the members of the legislature. In addition, the vote must be under a procedure or rule permitting no amendments. However, if the legislature rejects the bill and a 2nd redistricting bill submitted by the LRB, the legislature may amend any subsequent redistricting bill, but a subsequent bill, and any amendments to it, may be passed only with the approval of three-fourths of all the members elected in each house.

A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.