2016 -- S 2362

========

LC003382

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

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 - LINE ITEM VETO

     Introduced By: Senators E O`Neill, Raptakis, Cote, Morgan, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     RESOLVED, That a majority of the 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 that it take place of Article IX Section 14 which is hereby

amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE IX – OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER

     Section 14. Veto power of governor -- Veto overrides by general assembly -- Acts

effective without action by governor -- Budget line item veto. - Every bill, resolution, or vote

(except such as relate to adjournment, the organization or conduct of either or both houses of the

general assembly, and resolutions proposing amendment to the Constitution) which shall have

passed both houses of the general assembly shall be presented to the governor. If the governor

approve it the governor shall sign it, and thereupon it shall become operative, but if the governor

does not approve it the governor shall return it, accompanied by the governor's objections in

writing to the house in which it originated, which shall enter the governor's objections in full

upon its journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, three-fifths of the

members present and voting in that house shall vote to pass the measure, it shall be sent with the

objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise by reconsidered, and if approved by

three-fifths of the members present and voting in that house, it shall become operative in the same

manner as if the governor had approved it, but in such cases the votes of both houses shall be

determined by ayes and nays and the names of the members voting for and against the measure

shall be entered upon the journal of each house, respectively. If the measure shall not be returned

by the governor within six days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to the

governor the same shall become operative unless the general assembly, by adjournment, prevents

its return, in which case it shall become operative unless transmitted by the governor nor to the

secretary of state, with the governor's disapproval in writing within ten days after such

adjournment.

     The governor may reduce or veto any item of appropriation in a bill presented to them.

Portions of the bill not reduced or vetoed shall become law. An item vetoed or reduced shall be

returned to the house in which it originated and may be restored to its original amount and

become law in the same manner as a veto override. If a reduced item is not so restored, it shall

become law in the reduced amount.

     RESOLVED, That this amendment shall take, in the Constitution of the state, the place of

Section 14 of Article IX of the Constitution:

     It is further

     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 for

general officers of the state; and be it further

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

be 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 meetings to

be held as aforesaid; it further

     RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and 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, and

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

ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.

========

LC003382

========

LC003382 - Page 2 of 3

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 - LINE ITEM VETO

***

     This joint resolution would submit to the electors a constitutional amendment granting

the governor the power to utilize a line item veto for appropriations.

========

LC003382

========

LC003382 - Page 3 of 3