Bill > S51

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish an independent redistricting commission responsible for drawing new district boundaries for the state's congressional representatives, state senators, state representatives, and governor's councilors based on the federal census. The commission would be composed of members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of the Commonwealth, with additional nominees from legislative leaders, and these appointees would then select some of the commission members. The bill outlines specific criteria for drawing districts, emphasizing population equality, contiguity, and compliance with federal law, while also prohibiting gerrymandering for partisan advantage or to dilute the voting strength of racial, ethnic, or language minority groups. The commission's process would involve public hearings, public access to data and software, and opportunities for public comment on proposed maps, with strict timelines for submitting and voting on these plans. Commissioners are prohibited from holding elected office for a period before and after their service, and their meetings and documents are to be public.