2016 -- S 2362

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LC003382

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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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 - LINE ITEM VETO

     

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

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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

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

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

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Constitution, for their approval that it take place of Article IX Section 14 which is hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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ARTICLE IX – OF THE EXECUTIVE POWER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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adjournment.

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

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

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

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

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become law in the reduced amount.

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

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Section 14 of Article IX of the Constitution:

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     It is further

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

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

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

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general officers of the state; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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

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be held as aforesaid; it further

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

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

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

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

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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 - LINE ITEM VETO

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

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

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LC003382

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