2019 -- S 0377

========

LC001143

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

____________

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: Senators Sheehan, Raptakis, Lombardi, DiPalma, and Seveney

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight

     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,

which is hereby amended, effective on January 1, 2021, to read as follows:

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

effective without action by governor.

     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 be 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 to the secretary of state, with

the governor’s disapproval in writing within ten days after such adjournment.

     The governor may disapprove or reduce any item or items in any bill appropriating

money. So much of such bill as the governor approves shall, upon the governor's signing the

same, become law. As to each item disapproved or reduced, the governor shall transmit to the

house in which the bill originated the reason for such disapproval or reduction, and the procedure

shall then be the same as in the case of a bill disapproved as a whole.

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

Article IX, Section 14, 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,

2020. 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.

========

LC001143

========

LC001143 - 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 OF RHODE ISLAND

***

     This proposed constitution amendment, if adopted, would give the governor a line item

veto in any bill appropriating money.

========

LC001143

========

LC001143 - Page 3 of 3