Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Service Commission Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves resolution suspending rule that blocks PSC elections during congressional-redistricting litigation
Summary
A joint resolution was favorably reported to allow public-service-commission elections to proceed despite ongoing litigation challenging congressional districts; sponsors said prior law could indefinitely block PSC elections while reapportionment cases proceed.
The Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to a joint resolution intended to suspend a statutory prohibition that prevents holding public-service-commission (PSC) elections while congressional-district lines are under legal challenge.
Committee staff said the statute in question — adopted after the 2012 addition of a congressional district — could prevent PSC elections in perpetuity while litigation over congressional districts remains pending. The joint resolution would suspend that limitation for the current General Assembly cycle so PSC elections may proceed this year even as reapportionment litigation continues.
Senators questioned whether an elected PSC commissioner who is later found to live outside the evolving district boundaries would be removed; staff explained that current law preserves service until the end of a term in some carryover scenarios and that the measure aims to avoid the administrative burden of starting candidate-selection processes that could be rendered moot by subsequent litigation.
The committee voted to favorably report the joint resolution to the full Senate by voice vote with no opposition.
