Sign the Petitions at www.SignThePetitions.com

• Limits regular annual sessions of the legislature; they must finish work by May 1st each year.  
• Lawmaker salaries reduced from $79,650 to $40,000, expense accounts limited, and no state paid pensions for citizen legislators.

• One percent ($400) each day deducted from the salary of an absentee legislator.

• Officeholders Compensation Commission Eliminated - legislature sets all salaries out in the open and right before elections.  
• Governor still has right to call special sessions, but total special sessions are limited to 20 days each year.  
• Committee work can be done between sessions, but lawmakers get to participate and vote from their home district.
• Governor force to submit balanced budget on time or face censure. 
• This proposal is a genuine Part-time Legislature proposal designed to work with term limits - not against term limits. 
• If you like this proposal you may also like the People's Choice Tax Repeal Initiative. See www.TaxRepeal.com

Contact: Attorney Gregory C. Schmid (989) 799-4641 or email.

We have been advocating for legislative session limitations for over 25 years.

Want to download printable petitions and instructions? Have Questions? Go to: www.PetitionHelpDesk.com

Part-Time Legislature Committee 

1840 N. Michigan Ave. #200, Saginaw, MI 48602

Call Automated Message/fax Center (206) 888-2445 to get petitions or information

PTL is a Ballot Question Committee duly registered with the State of Michigan (committee ID # 513458-0). 

Please make donations by check or money order to PTL at the above address, or by credit card above. Please provide your name, address, email, and phone. Donations to Ballot Questions are not limited by law, like candidate donations, and we can accept corporate donations. Donations over $100 also please provide occupation and name/address of employment. Email us for more information. 

Technical Language/Drafting Notes/Reference Links

MICHIGAN SESSION LIMITS AMENDMENT 

Deleted language struck / New language in CAPS/ drafting notes are highlighted

Article 4, Section 12.  COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2009, THE ANNUAL SALARY OF EACH MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL BE ADJUSTED DOWNWARD TO $40,000.00. ONE PERCENT SHALL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE ANNUAL SALARY OF AN ABSENTEE LEGISLATOR FOR EACH DAY THAT LEGISLATOR IS ABSENT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, AND NOT IN RECESS.  PERSONAL EXPENSE ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL BE LIMITED TO REASONABLE AND ACTUAL DOCUMENTED EXPENSES FOR COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, AND MEALS DURING THE PERIODS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION OR WHILE PARTICIPATING IN COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND ACTIONS. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SHALL NOT, AS A RESULT OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE SERVICE, EARN OR ACCRUE ANY FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF A STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDED POST-SERVICE MEDICAL, HEALTH, OR LIFE INSURANCE BENEFIT; PENSION PLAN; DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN; RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN; RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE STATE; OR ANY MATCHING STATE CONTRIBUTION. THIS PROHIBITION SHALL NOT APPLY TO IMPAIR OR DIMINISH ANY FINANCIAL BENEFITS OR RIGHTS THAT HAVE VESTED OR ACCRUED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT, AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PREVENT A PERSON FROM VOLUNTARILY ALLOCATING A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION FROM HIS OR HER SALARY TO A RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN, OR TO PREVENT A PERSON FROM PURCHASING HEALTH OR OTHER SELF-PAID INSURANCE THROUGH THE STATE. The state officers compensation commission is created which subject to this section THEREAFTER THE LEGISLATURE shall determine the salaries and expense allowances of the members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the justices of the supreme court AT A STATE OFFICEHOLDER'S COMPENSATION SESSION CONVENED ACCORDING TO SECTION 13 OF THIS ARTICLE. The commission shall consist of 7 members appointed by the governor whose qualifications may be determined by law. Subject to the legislature's ability to amend the commission's determinations as provided in this section, the commission shall determine the salaries and expense allowances of the members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the justices of the supreme court which determinations shall be the salaries and expense allowances only if the legislature  THE DETERMINATION SHALL BE MADE UPON A ROLL CALL VOTE by concurrent resolution adopted by a majority of the members elected to and serving in each house of the legislature. approve them. The senate and House of Representatives shall alternate on which house of the legislature shall originate the concurrent resolution. with the senate originating the first concurrent resolution. The concurrent resolution may amend the salary and expense determinations of the state officers compensation commission to reduce the salary and expense determinations by the same proportion for members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the justices of the supreme court. The legislature shall not amend the salary and expense determinations to reduce them to below the salary and expense level that members of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the justices of the Supreme Court receive on the date the salary and expense determinations are made. If the salary and expense determinations are approved or amended as provided in this section, SALARIES, EXCEPT LEGISLATOR'S SALARIES, MAY BE INCREASED ANYTIME DURING A TERM OF OFFICE, BUT the salary and expense determinations FOR LEGISLATORS shall NOT become effective UNTIL for the legislative session immediately following the next general election. SALARIES OF ANY STATE OFFICEHOLDER UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE DECREASED DURING A TERM OF OFFICE EXCEPT AND ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF A GENERAL SALARY REDUCTION IN ALL OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. The commission shall meet each 2 years for no more than 15 session days. The legislature shall implement this section by law.

First, this section reduces legislative salaryies to $40,000. Next, it eliminates the Officeholder’s compensation commission, and forces the legislature to determine salaries and expenses for all state officeholders during the two weeks before each state election, so as to create a downward pressure on salaries. Finally, this eliminates state contributions of legislative pensions and lifetime medical. Also limits expense accounts and docks pay for absenteeism by $400/day.

Technical Note: Article6, Section 18 of the current constitution states: "Salaries of justices of the supreme court, of the judges of the court of appeals, of the circuit judges within a circuit, and of the probate judges within a county or district, shall be uniform, and may be increased but shall not be decreased during a term of office except and only to the extent of a general salary reduction in all other branches of government." In order to not alter or abrogate that section, or have to amend it for consistency, we have included the new language as follows:“Salaries, except legislator’s salaries, may be increased anytime during a term of office, but If the salary and expense determinations are approved or amended as provided in this section, the salary and expense determinations for legislators shall not become effective until for the legislative session immediately following the next general election. Salaries of any state officeholder under this section shall not be decreased during a term of office except and only to the extent of a general salary reduction in all other branches of government.” This language also solves the argument that this would allow the legislature to punish an officer holder of the executive or judicial branch by lowering the salary.

*state legislatures pension developments from 1999-2006* 

* 21 states with compensation commission

Article 4, Section 13.  AFTER JANUARY 1, 2009, the legislature shall meet at the seat of government on the second Wednesday in January MARCH of each year at twelve o'clock noon, AND each regular session shall adjourn without day, on a day determined by concurrent resolution, BUT NO LATER THAN THE FIRST DAY IN JULY at twelve o'clock noon. THE LEGISLATURE SHALL NOT OTHERWISE COME INTO SESSION, NOR SHALL ANY BILL OR RESOLUTION OTHERWISE BE PASSED, UNLESS DURING A SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED BY THE GOVERNOR, A SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED TO RESPOND TO PROPOSED INITIATIVE LEGISLATION ACCORDING TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 9 OF THIS CONSTITUTION, A SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED IN TIME OF EMERGENCY TO IMPLEMENT SECTIONS 39 AND 26 OF THIS ARTICLE, OR A STATE OFFICEHOLDER'S COMPENSATION SESSION CONVENED ACCORDING TO THIS SECTION. Any business, bill or joint resolution pending at the final adjournment of a regular session held in an odd numbered year shall carry over with the same status to the next regular session, SPECIAL SESSION, OR STATE OFFICEHOLDER'S COMPENSATION SESSION. THE LEGISLATURE SHALL NOT BE IN SPECIAL SESSION MORE THAN A TOTAL OF 20 DAYS EACH YEAR. THE LEGISLATURE SHALL MEET AT THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY IN OCTOBER OF EACH EVEN NUMBERED YEAR AT TWELVE O'CLOCK NOON FOR A STATE OFFICEHOLDER'S COMPENSATION SESSION. EACH STATE OFFICEHOLDER'S COMPENSATION SESSION SHALL ADJOURN WITHOUT DAY, ON A DAY DETERMINED BY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, BUT NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 1 AT TWELVE O'CLOCK NOON. NO OTHER BUSINESS MAY BE CONDUCTED AT A STATE OFFICEHOLDER'S COMPENSATION SESSION EXCEPT TO DETERMINE THE SALARIES AND EXPENSE ALLOWANCES ACCORDING TO SECTION 12 OF THIS ARTICLE, OR AT A SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED TO RESPOND TO PROPOSED INITIATIVE LEGISLATION EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE II, SECTION 9 OF THIS CONSTITUTION.

This creates a maximium window period of 107 to 114 regular session days each year, depending upon what date Wednesday falls, , from March to July 1stplus a maximum 20 special session days each year (must be called by the governor according to current constitution). The election year “a state officeholder’s compensation session” is held the last two weeks before state elections, and is limited in scope to determining compensation. The idea is to keep salaries on the front burner in elections, and create a downward pressure. Note that the scope of special sessions is already limited according to Article 4, Sec. 28: “When the legislature is convened on extraordinary occasions in special session no bill shall be passed on any subjects other than those expressly stated in the governor's proclamation or submitted by special message.”

*See study on full-time and part-time legislatures in America*

Article 4, Section 37.  The legislature may by concurrent resolution empower a joint committee of the legislature, acting between sessions, to suspend any rule or regulation promulgated by an administrative agency subsequent to the adjournment of the last preceding regular legislative session. Such suspension shall continue no longer than the end of the next regular legislative session. ANY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MAY HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TAKE ACTION BETWEEN SESSIONS, AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND VOTE FROM THEIR DISTRICT LIVE BY TELECOMMUNICATION OR OTHER RELIABLE METHOD ACCORDING TO LAW.

This section allows for committee meetings and business, but lets the legislator to participate from the citizen legislator’s home district, so they can keep private sector jobs. This section makes sure lawmakers can do their homework all year long, prepare legislative reports for sessions, and stay fresh on the issues, so as not to disenfranchise the power of a citizen legislature.

Article 5, Section 15.  The governor may convene the legislature on extraordinary occasions, SUBJECT THE 20 DAY LIMITATION ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE 4, SECTION 13 OF THIS CONSTITUTION.

This section allows continues the governors right to call special sessions, which are already limited by law to the purpose of the call, but makes clear these cannot exceed 20 days each year. Some states abuse the special session exception.

Article 5, Section 18. NO LATER THAN THE THIRD DAY OF THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, the governor shall submit to the legislature at a time fixed by law, a budget for the ensuing fiscal period setting forth in detail, for all operating funds, the proposed expenditures and estimated revenue of the state. Proposed expenditures from any fund shall not exceed the estimated revenue thereof. On the same date, the governor shall submit to the legislature general appropriation bills to embody the proposed expenditures and any necessary bill or bills to provide new or additional revenues to meet proposed expenditures. The amount of any surplus created or deficit incurred in any fund during the last preceding fiscal period shall be entered as an item in the budget and in one of the appropriation bills. THE LEGISLATURE MAY CENSURE THE GOVERNOR FOR NONFEASANCE FOR FAILURE TO FULFILL THIS DUTY, BY A VOTE OF THREE FIFTHS of the members elected to and serving in each house, with the name and vote of EACH MEMBER entered in the respective journals. The governor may submit amendments to appropriation bills to be offered in either house during consideration of the bill by that house, and shall submit bills to meet deficiencies in current appropriations.

This section allows requires a the governor to submit a budget that is on time and balanced. Currently a statute gives the governor 30 days from the beginning of a session (which now begins in January) and a new governor gets 60 days. The legslature sits around with nothing to do untl the budget arrives. This provision gives the governor at least as much time, but makes sure the budget is submitted with three days from the time the legislature convenes so that they can get to work and get it done. This section creates an intermediate consequence to discourage stalling by the governor - a censure vote. Censure is not impeachment, which is reserved for crimes, but no governor will ever open him or herself up to this mark.