§ 1906b. Division of two-member representative districts
(a) An initial district entitled to two Representatives under section 1893 of this title may be divided into single-member representative districts as provided in this section.
(b) As soon as practical after enactment of a final plan for initial districts under section 1906 of this title, the boards of civil authority of the town or towns that constitute 25 percent or more of the population of the initial district may call a meeting of the boards of civil authority of the town or towns of the initial district for the purpose of preparing a proposal for division of the district. Each board shall have one vote, provided that the proposal shall not provide for a representative district line to be drawn through a town if the board of civil authority of that town objects.
(c) In making a proposal under this section, the boards of civil authority shall consider:
(1) preservation of existing political subdivision lines;
(2) recognition and maintenance of patterns of geography, social interaction, trade, political ties, and common interests;
(3) use of compact and contiguous territory;
(4) incumbencies.
(d) In no initial district divided under this section shall the percentage of deviation result in a representative district that extends the limits of the overall range of the percentage of deviation in the initial district plan for reapportionment enacted by the General Assembly under section 1906 of this title.
(e) On or before April 1 of the year of the general election next after enactment of the final plan under section 1906 of this title, the boards of civil authority of the town or towns within each initial district proposing division under this section shall present a proposal for division to the Clerk of the House, and the proposal shall be referred to the appropriate committee. If the boards of civil authority desire to divide the initial district but are unable to obtain a majority vote on a proposed division, they may notify the Clerk of the House on or before April 1 of their failure to agree on a proposal and request that the General Assembly divide the initial district, and the General Assembly may divide the initial district into single-member representative districts.
(f) Representative districts proposed under this section shall become effective when approved by the General Assembly before adjournment sine die. The General Assembly shall approve representative districts proposed by the boards of civil authority if they are consistent with the standards set forth in this section. (Added 1991, No. 116 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. Feb. 13, 1992.)