Bill > HB1499

This bill revises laws concerning delegates to Article V conventions, which are meetings called by states to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It establishes detailed qualifications for these delegates, known as commissioners, including citizenship, residency, age, voter registration, and restrictions on being a lobbyist, federal employee, or having certain felony convictions. The bill outlines a rigorous selection process requiring a two-thirds vote in a joint session of the General Assembly, with provisions for alternate commissioners and the ability to remove delegates. Crucially, it defines the scope of authority for commissioners, mandating that they adhere to specific instructions from the General Assembly, including how to vote on procedural matters and the substance of proposed amendments, and requiring them to take an oath to uphold these instructions. The bill also creates an Article V convention advisory committee to monitor delegate actions and provides penalties, including a Class E felony, for commissioners who violate their oath or exceed their authority.