2018 -- H 7745

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LC004941

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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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 OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Cunha, Casey, Costantino, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     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 this amendment take the place of Article IX, Section 14

Article IX Section 9, which is hereby amended, effective on January 1, 2019, to read as follows:

     Section 9. Vacancy in office of governor.

     If the office of the governor shall be vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment

or inability to serve, the lieutenant governor shall temporarily fill the office of governor, and

exercise the powers and authority appertaining thereto, until a new governor is elected at a special

election which election shall be held within six (6) months of the vacancy and the newly elected

governor shall serve qualified to act, or until the office is filled at the next general election.

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

Article IX, Section 9, of the Constitution; and be it 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 to be held in November,

2018. The voting places in the several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours

required by law for voting therein for members of the state general assembly; 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 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; and be 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 next general election of members to the state general assembly

and such other general officers of the state as may be up for 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 OF RHODE ISLAND

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     This proposed constitution amendment, if adopted, would provide for a special election to

fill any vacancy in the office of the governor.

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LC004941

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