2020 -- S 2702

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LC004681

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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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

     Introduced By: Senator Samuel W. Bell

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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

assembly voting therefor, the following amendments 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 the following sections are hereby amended, effective on

January 1, 2021, to read as follows:

ARTICLE VI

OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER

     Section 16. Borrowing power of general assembly.

     (a) The general assembly shall approve all debt that pledges the general obligation of the

state.

     (b) The general assembly shall have no powers, without the express consent of the

people, to incur state debts to an amount exceeding fifty thousand dollars, except in time of war,

or in case of insurrection or invasion; nor shall it in any case, without such consent, pledge the

faith of the state for the payment of the obligations of others. This section shall not be construed

to refer to any money that may be deposited with the state by the government of the United

States.

     (c) The general assembly shall have no power, without the consent of the people, to fail

to make an appropriation to fully fund actuarially required contributions to any state pension

fund.

     (d) The general assembly shall have no power, without the consent of the people, to make

an appropriation for payment for bonds issued pursuant to a public-private partnership, or for

private-activity bonds, or bonds issued by a public corporation, or any bonds not subject to a

pledge of the general obligation of the state.

     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendments 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 amendments

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; 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 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 OF THE STATE

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     This act would provide for a joint resolution to approve and publish a proposition for a

constitutional amendment which specifies that all debt that pledges the general obligation of the

state be approved by the general assembly. This proposed constitutional amendment would also

require voter approval for appropriations less than the actuarially required contributions to any

state pension fund or for payment on any bond not subject to a pledge of the general obligation of

the state.

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LC004681

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