In recent years there has been much contention regarding redistricting. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission is responsible for developing the district plans for the General Assembly after each Census.
 
Currently, there are proposals to create an “independent” redistricting commission.  However, creating a brand-new commission would simply generate a whole new host of issues and problems. Instead of creating a whole new commission, my constitutional amendment would fine-tune and improve the existing structure.
 
Therefore, I intend to introduce legislation proposing a constitutional amendment to reform the
existing commission in the following way: 

1. A vote of 4/5 commission members would be required to approve any district plan
2. All submissions and changes made by the Commission in developing district plans must be disclosed publicly
3. Timelines for debate would be extended; and all members of the General Assembly would be required to submit, alone or as a group, comments reflecting their districts’ communities of interest.

Together, these reforms can ensure that future reapportionment processes are bipartisan, more transparent, and better serving of our Commonwealth’s public interest. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation.
 
VG/cmc