SALEM - Lawmakers could be required to meet annually instead of every other year under a proposed ballot measure that won quick approval from the Senate on Wednesday.

The sponsor of the measure, Sen. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin said as issues become more complex, Oregon needs to join the 44 other states whose legislatures meet every year.

The measure passed 20-10 and now goes to the House. If approved there, it will be on the May 2004 primary election ballot. It will be the first time voters have considered the issue since 1990, when an annual session proposal was defeated by a razor-thin margin.

The new measure would have lawmakers meet for 120 days in odd-numbered years and 45 days the following year. The sessions could be extended by five-day increments if two-thirds of the legislators in both houses agreed.

Devlin said under the time limits, legislators would meet fewer days in a two-year period than they do now.

Regular biennial sessions have averaged about 180 days in length in the past decade; the 1993 session didn't end until August.

Devlin said Oregon is the only state with biennial sessions that have no deadlines and that annual meetings would avoid repeating the "fits and starts" of the five special sessions that were held last year to deal with budget shortfalls.

Other annual-session backers said deadlines would better focus legislators on getting their work done.

"I think pressure is a good thing," said Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Medford, "A major problem is we have no end dates."

Foes of the change, such as 28-year veteran Sen. Lenn Hannon, said it could transform citizen lawmakers into professional legislators and require a bigger and more expensive operation.

"My constituents say we meet too much as it is," said Hannon, an Ashland Republican.

Legislatures in Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas also still meet biennially.

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On the Net:

Bill No. SJR11

www.leg.state.or.us/billsset.htm