H5401

	2017 -- H 5401
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	LC000658
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017
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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 (EMPOWERMENT OF
	INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS)

	Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Mendonca, Roberts, Quattrocchi, and Morgan
	Date Introduced: February 03, 2017
	Referred To: House Judiciary
1	WHEREAS, The participation and vigilance of each citizen and taxpayer is vital to the
2	health of our form of government;
3	RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general
4	assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed to
5	the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the
6	Constitution, for their approval and the following article is hereby amended, effective on January
7	1, 2019, by adding thereto the following section:
8	ARTICLE I
9	DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
10	Section 25. Standing of individual taxpayer. Any taxpayer shall have the standing to
11	contest the validity or legality of any governmental expenditure or tax in the appropriate forum.
12	RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors
13	for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the
14	several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for
15	general officers of the state; and be it further
16	RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendment to
17	be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said
18	meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices
19	to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town, ward,

1	or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or district meetings to
2	be held as aforesaid; and be it further
3	RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be
4	warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and
5	district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town,
6	ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.
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	LC000658
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	LC000658 - 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 OF THE STATE (EMPOWERMENT OF
	INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS)
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1	This joint resolution would propose a constitutional amendment that would affirm the
2	standing of each individual taxpayer to contest the validity or legality of any governmental
3	expenditure or tax in the appropriate forum.
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	LC000658
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	LC000658 - Page 3 of 3