2023 -- H 5236

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LC000506

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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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 (INITIATIVE AND

REFERENDUM)

     Introduced By: Representative Ramon A. Perez

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     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 it take the place therein of Article VI Sections 1 and 2

which are hereby amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE VI

OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER

     Section 1. Constitution supreme law of the state Constitution is supreme. -- This

Constitution shall be the supreme law of the state, and any law inconsistent therewith shall be

void. The general assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry this Constitution into effect. The

legislative power of the state shall be vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate and a

house of representatives, both to be elected by the people, but the people reserve to themselves

the power to propose laws and amendments to the constitution and to enact or reject the same at a

general election without the approval of the general assembly, and also reserve the power at their

own option to approve or reject at a general election any act, section or part of any act of the

general assembly.

     Section 2. Power vested in general assembly – Concurrence of houses required to enact

laws – Style of laws. Power to enact legislation. -- Enactment and style of laws. -- Power of the

general assembly. – Initiative and referendum. – (a). The legislative power, under this

Constitution, and subject to the reservations set forth in Section 1 of this article, shall be vested in

two houses, the one to be called the senate, the other the house of representatives; and both

together the general assembly. The concurrence of the two houses shall be necessary to the

enactment of laws. The style of their laws shall be, It is enacted by the general assembly as

follows:

     (b) The people reserve to themselves the right and the power to propose laws and

amendments to the constitution and to adopt or reject the same. Qualified voters shall have the

power through petition to enact statutes and to amend the constitution at general elections. This

power shall be known as initiative and referendum. No initiative shall be permitted which shall

abridge the civil rights or liberties, including those guaranteed by Article I of the Rhode Island

Constitution, or attempt to preclude the expansion of civil rights, of any individual or group of

individuals and no initiative shall be permitted which would repeal or amend this sentence. The

superior court shall have original jurisdiction to hear complaints arising under this section on an

expedited basis. Any individual shall have standing to bring an action at any time to enforce this

section.

     (c) This article does not permit the proposal of any constitutional amendment that

appropriates state revenue. This article does not permit the proposal of any constitutional

amendment that diminishes state revenues by the reduction or limitation of a tax or fee. This

article does not permit the proposal of any constitutional amendment that affects the generation or

expenditure of state revenues through the ordinary legislative budget process.

     (d) This article does not permit the proposal of any statute or statutory amendment that

makes an appropriation or otherwise requires the expenditure of money, unless such statute or

amendment also enacts a commensurate increase in revenues and/or decreases in revenue

appropriations, not prohibited by the Constitution; provided, however, that this requirement shall

not apply to a proposal for the appropriation or expenditure of less than five hundred thousand

dollars ($500,000), which amount shall be adjusted annually, commencing with the fiscal year

beginning on or after July 1, 2025, to reflect changes in the cost-of-living as determined by the

United States government. This article does not permit the proposal of any statute or any statutory

amendment that diminishes state revenue, unless such statute or statutory amendment also enacts

a commensurate increase in revenues and/or decreases in revenue appropriations to accommodate

the projected reduction in state revenue. Any initiative affecting the state budget must be

prospective in nature and may not be effective prior to the fiscal year subsequent to the general

election.

     (e) To be eligible to be placed on a general election ballot a statutory initiative petition

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shall be signed by at least a number of qualified voters equal to five percent (5%) of the total

number of votes cast for the office of governor at the last preceding general election for that

office, and a petition to amend the constitution shall be signed by at least a number of qualified

voters equal to ten percent (10%) of the total number of votes cast for the office of governor at

the last preceding general election for that office. To qualify for certification, signatures from at

least fifty percent (50%) of the cities and/or towns, of which four (4) must be cities, must meet

the above percentage requirements.

     (f) For certified initiative petitions, initiative petitioners shall have three hundred sixty-

five (365) days from the date the secretary of state has date and time stamped, assigned a petition

reference number, and issued the first initiative petition forms to collect and file with the local

canvassing authorities the requisite number of signatures, and such signatures may be filed

separately with the authorities as they are collected by the petitioners. The local canvassing

authorities shall certify the authenticity of the initiative petition signatures and advise the

secretary of state within thirty (30) business days of receipt of each initiative petition form.

     (g) (1) An initiative shall be approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting

thereon. If so approved, it shall become part of the statutory law of the state or part of the

Constitution as the case may be and shall take effect from and after the official declaration of the

vote thereon by proclamation of the state board of elections, or its successor, but in no event later

than thirty (30) days after the vote has been certified unless otherwise provided in the initiative

petition.

     (2) The veto power of the governor shall not extend to an initiative by the voters.

     (3) If any provisions of constitutional amendments and/or laws approved by the people at

the same election are in conflict with each other, then the provisions which received the largest

number of affirmative votes at such election shall govern; and in any other case an initiative

approved by the voters shall supersede any conflicting law.

     (4) The general assembly shall provide such funds as may be required to implement an

approved initiative.

     (5) The general assembly shall not, within four (4) years after passage, repeal or alter any

such statutory initiative unless by three-fourths (3/4) vote of both houses.

     (6) Unless an initiative which has a singular or exclusive impact on any city or town is

approved by a majority of those voting in that city or town, said initiative shall not take effect.

     (h) The provisions of Article XIV of this Constitution shall not be construed to deny,

limit or disparage the people’s right to propose or amend the Constitution through initiative and

referendum.

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     (i) The general assembly shall enact implementing legislation for this section.

     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment 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;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause 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 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 clerks to the

electors in the town, ward, or district meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the town, ward, or 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, or district

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

district meetings for the statewide general 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 (INITIATIVE AND

REFERENDUM)

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     This resolution would enable the citizens of Rhode Island to propose laws and

amendments to the constitution through an initiative and referendum process, except as to

revenue and appropriations, which power remains vested in the general assembly.

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