Concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the United States Constitution, providing a penalty, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to persons selected by the general assembly to represent the state at a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the United States Constitution. The bill defines an Article V convention as a convention called by the United States Congress as provided by Article V of the United States Constitution upon application of the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the states to propose amendments to the United States Constitution. “Commissioner” is defined to mean a person selected to represent the state at an Article V convention. The bill also defines an unauthorized amendment as a proposed amendment at an Article V convention that is outside the subject matter of the state’s joint resolution calling for the convention or is in contravention of any instructions provided to commissioners by the state. The bill provides that a commissioner shall not propose or vote to approve an unauthorized amendment at an Article V convention or vote contrary to instructions given to the commissioner by the general assembly before or during the convention or by voters at a ratifying convention. The bill also requires a commissioner to take an oath recognizing this prohibition. The bill provides that a commissioner violating a provision of the bill shall be subject to removal and replacement as a commissioner by the state and shall be guilty of a class “A” felony. A class “A” felony is punishable by confinement for life without possibility of parole. The bill takes effect upon enactment.