• Convention to be limited; Article I (the Declaration of Rights) off the table.

TIMELINE

• Authorizing referendum and delegates to be chosen on November 8, 2011.
• Convention opens on December 6, 2011 to elect officers and form committees.
• Delegates hold pre-convention public hearings across the Commonwealth during January 2012.
• Working convention sessions commence on February 6, 2012.
• Convention adjourns sine die on September 11, 2012.
• Proposed constitutional changes submitted to the electorate on November 6, 2012.

DELEGATES

• Three delegates elected in non-partisan fashion from each state senatorial district; minimum age 25; four year Commonwealth residency and one year district residency requirements. Alternate delegates also determined by election.
• Public officials and lobbyists prohibited as delegates.
• Delegates may only accept campaign contributions from in-district individuals. Contributions limited to $1,000. Self-financing limited to $1,000.
• Elected delegates receive salary equal to legislative base pay and reimbursement for mileage and lodging.
• Delegates prohibited from holding public office for two years after convention and prohibited from lobbying for two years after convention.

ORGANIZATION

• Preparatory committee of four convention delegate officers, 15 other delegates, four legislative caucus leaders, the state Treasurer and the Auditor General prescribes convention rules, hires staff and secures materials, equipment and working space.
• Judicial committee of 12 convention delegate officers, three judges of the Commonwealth Court and the Lieutenant Governor prescribes rules of conduct for delegates and develops a system for hearing complaints and referral to the Attorney General when appropriate.
• Ten other committees formed to examine Articles II-XI.

TRANSPARENCY

• Convention Communications Commission established to provide transparency, public scrutiny and preservation of the convention's proceedings and activities. Commission under supervision of the Governor and the state Treasurer until convention can assume full oversight.
• All convention activities open to the public.
• Lobbying of individual delegates by registered lobbyists prohibited; permitted lobbying methods of the whole convention specified.

PROTECTIONS

• Delegates swear an oath to abide by the limitations and provisions of the act.
• Courts available to challenge violations of the limitations of the act.
• Proposed changes to the Constitution require two-thirds majority upon final passage at convention.
• Convention's proposed changes subject to approval by the electorate.
• Adopted changes immune from subsequent state court challenges.
• Attorney General has jurisdiction over violations of the act; criminal penalties prescribed.

FUNDING

• No new taxes required; convention funded by existing non-lapsing legislative leadership accounts.