Proposed State Constitutional Amendments - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 2008

PROPOSED STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

S.C.R. 08-3 Initiative petitions - signature requirements - filing requirements - review and comment - protection of initiated laws. Changes the minimum number of signatures of registered electors required for a proposed initiative from 5% of the votes cast in the previous election for secretary of state to:

● For a proposed initiated statute, 4% of the votes cast in the previous election for the office of governor; and

● For a proposed initiated amendment to the state constitution, 6% of the votes cast in the previous election for the office of governor.

Requires at least 8% of the total number of signatures required for an initiative petition to amend the state constitution to be gathered from residents in each congressional district in the state.

Extends the time permitted to gather signatures on a statutory initiative petition by 3 months from the time that is currently allowed by statute. Requires the original draft of a proposed initiative to amend the state constitution to be filed with the legislative research and drafting offices of the general assembly no later than the 60th day of the legislative session prior to the election at which the measure is to be voted upon, and allows the general assembly to conduct public hearings on the proposed initiative.

Changes the initiative review and comment process as follows:

● Requires the legislative research and drafting offices of the general assembly to prepare and transmit to the initiative proponents a review and comment memorandum no later than 2 weeks after the submission of a proposed measure;

● Requires the memorandum and proposed measure to be made public;

● Requires a review and comment meeting to be held 3 weeks after submission of a proposed measure; and

● Allows comment by the public and members of the general assembly at review and comment meetings.

Requires a 2/3 vote of all members elected to each house of the general assembly to amend, repeal, or supersede an initiated statute for a period of 5 years after the statute becomes effective.

H.C.R. 08-1008 Constitutional provisions - liquor laws. Repeals section 5 of article XVIII of the state constitution, which requires the general assembly to prohibit of the sale of any spurious, poisonous, or drugged spirituous liquors.

Repeals article XXII of the state constitution, which specifies that the manufacture, sale, and distribution of intoxicating liquors are subject to statutory regulation and prohibits the general assembly from establishing or maintaining a saloon.

H.C.R. 08-1009 Constitutional provisions - increase in land value - repeal. Repeals section 7 of article XVIII of the state constitution concerning the general assembly's authority to increase land value caused by the planting of hedges, orchards, and forests.