2015 -- S 0067

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LC000281

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (INITIATIVE AND

REFERENDUM)

     Introduced By: Senators Cote, Ottiano, Picard, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: January 13, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general

assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the constitution of the state be proposed to

the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the

constitution for their approval and that it take the place of Article VI Sections 1 and 2 which are

hereby amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE VI

     Section 1. Constitution is supreme law of the state. -- This Constitution shall be the

supreme law of the state, and any law inconsistent therewith shall be void. The general assembly

shall pass all laws necessary to carry this Constitution into effect. The legislative power of the

state shall be vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate and a house of representatives,

both to be elected by the people, but the people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws

and amendments to the constitution and to enact or reject the same at a general election without

the approval of the general assembly, and also reserve power at their own option to approve or

reject at a general election any act, section or part of any act of the general assembly.

     Section 2. Power vested in general assembly – Concurrence of houses required to enact

laws – Style of laws. Power to enact legislation. -- Enactment and style of laws. -- Power of the

general assembly. – Initiative and referendum. -- A. The legislative power, under this

Constitution, and subject to the reservations set forth in Section 1 hereof, shall be vested in two

houses, the one to be called the senate, the other the house of representatives; and both together

the general assembly. The concurrence of the two houses shall be necessary to the enactment of

laws. The style of their laws shall be, It is enacted by the general assembly as follows:

     B. The people reserve the right to themselves the power to propose laws and amendments

to the constitution and to adopt or reject the same. Qualified voters shall have the power through

petition to enact statutes and to amend the constitution at general elections. This power shall be

known as initiative and referendum. No initiative shall be permitted which shall abridge the civil

rights or liberties, including those guaranteed by Article I of the Rhode Island Constitution, or

attempt to preclude the expansion of civil rights, of any individual or group of individuals and no

initiative shall be permitted which would repeal or amend this sentence. The superior court shall

have original jurisdiction to hear complaints arising under this section on an expedited basis. Any

individual shall have standing to bring an action at any time to enforce this section.

     C. This article does not permit the proposal of any constitutional amendment that

appropriates state revenue. This article does not permit the proposal of any constitutional

amendment that diminishes state revenues by the reduction or limitation of a tax or fee. This

article does not permit the proposal of any constitutional amendment that affects the generation or

expenditure of state revenues through the ordinary legislative budget process.

     D. This article does not permit the proposal of any statute or statutory amendment that

makes an appropriation or otherwise requires the expenditure of money, unless such statute or

amendment also enacts a commensurate increase in revenues and/or decreases in revenue

appropriations, not prohibited by the constitution; provided, however, that this requirement shall

not apply to a proposal for the appropriation or expenditure of less than five hundred thousand

dollars ($500,000), which amount shall be adjusted annually commencing in fiscal year

2017/2018 to reflect changes in the cost-of-living as determined by the United States government.

This article does not permit the proposal of any statute or any statutory amendment that

diminishes state revenue, unless such statute or statutory amendment also enacts a commensurate

increase in revenues and/or decreases in revenue appropriations to accommodate the projected

reduction in state revenue. Any initiative affecting the state budget must be prospective in nature

and may not be effective prior to the fiscal year subsequent to the general election.

     E. To be eligible to be placed on a general election ballot a statutory initiative petition

shall be signed by at least a number of qualified voters equal to five percent (5%) of the total

number of votes cast for the office of governor at the last preceding general election for that

office, and a petition to amend the constitution shall be signed by at least a number of qualified

voters equal to ten percent (10%) of the total number of votes cast for the office of governor at

the last preceding general election for that office. To qualify for certification, signatures from at

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least fifty percent (50%) of the cities and/or towns, of which four (4) must be cities, must meet

the above percentage requirements.

     F. For certified initiative petitions, initiative petitioners shall have three hundred sixty-

five (365) days from the date the secretary of state has date and time stamped, assigned a petition

reference number, and issued the first initiative petition forms to collect and file with the local

canvassing authorities the requisite number of signatures, and such signatures may be filed

separately with the authorities as they are collected by the petitioners. The local canvassing

authorities shall certify the authenticity of the initiative petition signatures and advise the

secretary of state within thirty (30) business days of receipt of each initiative petition form.

     G. (1) An initiative shall be approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon.

If so approved, it shall become part of the statutory law of the state or part of the constitution as

the case may be and shall take effect from and after the official declaration of the vote thereon by

proclamation of the state board of elections, or its successor, but in no event later than thirty (30)

days after the vote has been certified unless otherwise provided in the initiative petition.

     (2) The veto power of the governor shall not extend to an initiative by the voters.

     (3) If any provisions of constitutional amendments and/or laws approved by the people at

the same election are in conflict with each other, then the provisions which received the largest

number of affirmative votes at such election shall govern; and in any other case an initiative

approved by the voters shall supersede any conflicting law.

     (4) The general assembly shall provide such funds as may be required to implement an

approved initiative.

     (5) The general assembly shall not, within four (4) years after passage, repeal or alter any

such statutory initiative unless by three-fourths (3/4) vote of both houses.

     (6) Unless an initiative which has a singular or exclusive impact on any city or town is

approved by a majority of those voting in that city or town, said initiative shall not take effect.

     H. The provisions of Article XIV of this constitution shall not be construed to deny, limit

or disparage the people’s right to propose or amend the constitution through initiative and

referendum.

     I. The general assembly shall enact implementing legislation for this section.

     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors

for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the

several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause said proposition of amendment to be

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published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said

meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices

to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town, ward,

or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward or district clerks to the

electors in the town, ward, or district meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the town, ward, or district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be

warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, or district

meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town, ward, and

district meetings for the statewide general election.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (INITIATIVE AND

REFERENDUM)

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     This joint resolution would propose an amendment to the state constitution, by

establishing a voter initiative process to allow voters to initiate proposed legislation which would,

upon a majority vote of the electorate, become law.

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