NY State Senate Bill 2023-S2290

Senate Bill S2290

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Provides for initiative and referendum in New York State for the People as electors to propose or reject laws and submit amendments to the state constitution

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 29, 2024	opinion referred to judiciary
Jan 04, 2024	to attorney-general for opinion
Jan 03, 2024	referred to judiciary
Feb 23, 2023	opinion referred to judiciary
Jan 20, 2023	to attorney-general for opinion
Jan 19, 2023	referred to judiciary

co-Sponsors

2023-S2290 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2933
Current Committee:: Senate Judiciary
Law Section:: Constitution, Concurrent Resolutions to Amend
Laws Affected:: Amd Art 3 §§13, 14 & 16, Art 19 §1, Art 4 §7, ren Art 20 to be Art 21, add Art 20 §§1 - 11, Constn
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S6429
2011-2012: S709
2013-2014: S4049
2015-2016: S879
2017-2018: S404
2019-2020: S70
2021-2022: S5864, A4674

2023-S2290 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides for initiative and referendum in New York State for the People as electors to propose or reject laws and submit amendments to the state constitution.

2023-S2290 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2290

SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing amendments to
the constitution, in relation to providing the electors with the power
of initiative and referendum

 
PURPOSE:

This proposal would amend the New York State constitution to reserve for
the People of the State the powers of initiative and referendum.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Sections 1 through 5 of the concurrent resolution would amend section 13
of Article 3, Section 14 of Article 3, Section 1 of Article 19, section
16 of Article 3 and Section 7 of Article 4 of the State Constitution,
respectively, to accommodate a new Article 20 to reserve to the People
of the state the powers of initiative and referendum (I&R).

Section 6 of the concurrent resolution would renumber Article 20 of the
Constitution Article 21 and provides for a new Article 20. The new Arti-
cle 20 would reserve to New Yorkers the power to Propose laws and amend-
ments to the Constitution, and to adopt or reject laws independent of
the Legislature. Initiative is the power of the electors to propose
statutes and amendments to the Constitution and referendum is the power
to approve or reject statutes or part of statutes. For an initiative or
referendum measure to appear on a ballot, a petition setting forth the
proposal must be filed with the State Board of Elections and be signed
by electors at least equal in number to 5 percent of the votes cast for
all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial election. Such
signatures must include at least 5,000 signatures from each of at least
three-fifths of the State's congressional districts. The process for
gathering signatures for a petition in support of an I&R proposal and
for presenting the petition to the Board of Elections shall be conducted
in substantial conformity with Election Law provisions governing inde-
pendent petitions.

Prior to circulation of a petition for signatures, a copy of the initi-
ative or referendum shall be submitted to the Attorney General who shall
prepare a title and summary of the measure which shall not give any
indication of support or opposition to such measure. The measure shall
also be submitted to the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission for tech-
nical comments on the form of the measure. Any action or proceeding in
which a question arises as to the validity of a measure or which chal-
lenges the title and summary of such measure shall be granted a prefer-
ence in all courts.

To be enacted, an initiative or referendum measure must be approved by a
majority of the electors voting on the measure statewide. A measure
proposing or rejecting a statute that has been approved shall be effec-
tive on the first day of January of the year next succeeding its passage
unless the measure expressly provides otherwise. A measure amending the
constitution must be approved by a majority of the electors voting on
the measure statewide in two successive elections in which there are
candidates for the state senate and Assembly. I&R shall be permitted for
any measure except the following: (i) calling for elections; (ii) appro-
priating funds, except for a single object or purpose, (iii) naming any
individuals to hold office, or (iv) granting any power or duty to any
private entity or directing such entity to perform a function. An initi-
ative measure embracing more than one subject is not permitted and a
maximum of four discrete measures may be submitted at anyone general
election. The Legislature shall be prohibited from repealing or amending
a measure adopted or rejected through I&R for a period of two years.
After two years, any legislative proposal to amend or repeal an I&R
measure shall be put to the voters at the next general election for
approval or rejection.

This constitutional amendment will also reserve to the citizens of all
cities, towns and counties the power of I&R. signatures of electors of a
municipality equal in number to at least 5 percent of the votes cast in
such municipality for all candidates for governor at the last gubernato-
rial election will be required to propose any measure by I&R and an
affirmative vote of the majority of electors voting on the measure will
be required to be enacted. Petitions shall be submitted to the county
board of elections which will resolve challenges to such petitions.

Section 7 would provide for submission of this constitutional amendment
to the first regular session of the Legislature after the next succeed-
ing general election of the members of the Assembly.

 
EXISTING LAW:

The People of the state do not currently have the constitutional right
to enact laws, amend the constitution or repeal laws by initiative or
referendum. Section 13 of Article 3 of the constitution provides that no
law shall be enacted except by bill. Section 14 of Article 3 of the
constitution provides that no bill shall become law except by the assent
of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the Legislature.

Section 1 of Article 19 of the Constitution provides that proposed
amendments to the Constitution shall be effective if they are agreed to
by a majority of. the members of both branches of two successive Legis-
latures and subsequently approved by a majority of the electors voting
thereon. Section 7 of Article 4 of the Constitution provides that every
bill that passes the Legislature must be presented to the Governor for
approval. Section 16 of Article 3 provides that no act shall be passed
which provides that an existing law shall be deemed a part of the act,
except by inserting the law into the act. Amending the State constitu-
tion to allow initiative and referendum will provide the citizens of New
York the ability to enact laws which are specifically addressed to their
concerns. This procedure is a reflection of the basic tenet of democracy
which embodies government by the people, of the People and for the
People. I&R is an integral mechanism for voters to exercise a direct and
active role. in enacting and defeating laws. The People of New York
deserve a greater voice in government and will citizenry. I&R will
provide voters stronger representation and allow them to act when their
elected representatives fail to do so.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2011: Passed Senate

2012: Committed to Senate Rules,

2013-2014: Referred to Senate Judiciary

2015-2016: Referred to Senate Judiciary

2017-2018: Referred to Senate Judiciary

2019-2020: S.70 Referred to Judiciary

2021-2022: S.5864 Referred to Judiciary/A.4674 Referred to Judiciary

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments be
referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
next succeeding general election of members of the assembly and, in
conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.

2023-S2290 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2290
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 19, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
 
             CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
 
 proposing amendments to the constitution, in relation to  providing  the
   electors with the power of initiative and referendum

   Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 13 of arti-
 cle 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
   §  13.  The  enacting  clause of all bills shall be "The People of the
 State of New York, represented in  Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as
 follows,"  and  no law shall be enacted except by bill; EXCEPT AS OTHER-
 WISE PROVIDED IN ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION.
   § 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the opening paragraph  of
 section  14  of  article  3  of  the  constitution be amended to read as
 follows:
   A. No bill shall be passed or become a law unless it shall  have  been
 printed  and  upon the desks of the members, in its final form, at least
 three calendar legislative days prior to its final passage,  unless  the
 governor, or the acting governor, shall have certified, under his or her
 hand  and  the  seal of the state, the facts which in his or her opinion
 necessitate an immediate vote thereon, in which case it  must  neverthe-
 less  be  upon  the  desks of the members in final form, not necessarily
 printed, before its final passage; nor  shall  any  bill  be  passed  or
 become  a law, except by the assent of a majority of the members elected
 to each branch of the legislature; and upon the last reading of a  bill,
 no  amendment  thereof shall be allowed, and the question upon its final
 passage shall be taken immediately thereafter, and  the  ayes  and  nays
 entered on the journal.
   B.  THIS  SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM THAT
 IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION.
   § 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of  article  19
 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD89047-01-3

 S. 2290                             2
 
   Section  1. A. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be
 proposed in the senate and assembly whereupon such amendment  or  amend-
 ments  shall  be referred to the attorney-general whose duty it shall be
 within twenty days thereafter to render an opinion  in  writing  to  the
 senate  and  assembly  as  to the effect of such amendment or amendments
 upon other provisions of the constitution. Upon receiving such  opinion,
 if the amendment or amendments as proposed or as amended shall be agreed
 to  by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, such
 proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals, and
 the ayes and noes taken thereon, and referred to the next regular legis-
 lative session  convening  after  the  succeeding  general  election  of
 members  of the assembly, and shall be published for three months previ-
 ous to the time of making  such  choice;  and  if  in  such  legislative
 session,  such  proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a
 majority of all the members elected to each house, then it shall be  the
 duty  of the legislature to submit each proposed amendment or amendments
 to the people for approval in such manner  and  at  such  times  as  the
 legislature  shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and ratify
 such amendment or amendments by a majority of the electors voting there-
 on, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the constitution
 on the first day of January next after such approval.  Neither the fail-
 ure of the attorney-general to  render  an  opinion  concerning  such  a
 proposed  amendment  nor his or her failure to do so timely shall affect
 [th] THE validity of such proposed amendment or legislative action ther-
 eon.
   B. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO AN AMENDMENT BY INITIATIVE  SUBJECT
 TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION.
   §  4.  Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 16 of article 3
 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
   § 16. A. No act shall be passed which shall provide that any  existing
 law, or any part thereof, shall be made or deemed a part of said act, or
 which  shall  enact  that  any  existing  law, or part thereof, shall be
 applicable, except by inserting it in such act.
   B. THIS SECTION SHALL  NOT  APPLY  TO  ANY  INITIATIVE  OR  REFERENDUM
 SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION.
   § 5. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 7 of article 4 of
 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
   §  7.  A.  Every  bill which shall have passed the senate and assembly
 shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to  the  governor;  if  the
 governor  approve,  he or she shall sign it; but if not, he or she shall
 return it with his or her objections to the house in which it shall have
 originated, which shall enter the objections at large  on  the  journal,
 and  proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, two-thirds
 of the members elected to that house shall agree to pass  the  bill,  it
 shall be sent together with the objections, to the other house, by which
 it  shall likewise be reconsidered; and if approved by two-thirds of the
 members elected to that house, it shall become a law notwithstanding the
 objections of the governor. In all such cases the votes in  both  houses
 shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays, and the names of the members
 voting shall be entered on the journal of each  house  respectively.  If
 any  bill shall not be returned by the governor within ten days (Sundays
 excepted) after it shall have been presented to him  or  her,  the  same
 shall  be a law in like manner as if he or she had signed it, unless the
 legislature shall, by their adjournment, prevent its  return,  in  which
 case  it shall not become a law without the approval of the governor. No
 bill shall become a law after the final adjournment of the  legislature,
 S. 2290                             3
 
 unless  approved  by the governor within thirty days after such adjourn-
 ment. If any bill presented to the governor  contain  several  items  of
 appropriation  of  money, the governor may object to one or more of such
 items while approving of the other portion of the bill. In such case the
 governor  shall  append to the bill, at the time of signing it, a state-
 ment of the items to which he or she objects; and the  appropriation  so
 objected  to shall not take effect. If the legislature be in session, he
 or she shall transmit to the house in which the bill originated  a  copy
 of  such statement, and the items objected to shall be separately recon-
 sidered. If on reconsideration one or more of such items be approved  by
 two-thirds  of the members elected to each house, the same shall be part
 of the law, notwithstanding the objections  of  the  governor.  All  the
 provisions  of  this  section,  in relation to bills not approved by the
 governor, shall apply in  cases  in  which  he  or  she  shall  withhold
 approval from any item or items contained in a bill appropriating money.
   B.  THIS  SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM THAT
 IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION.
   § 6. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article 20 of the consti-
 tution be renumbered article 21 and a new article 20 be added to read as
 follows:
                                ARTICLE XX
                         INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

   SECTION 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF  THIS  CONSTITUTION,
 THE  PEOPLE  RESERVE  TO  THEMSELVES  THE  POWER  TO PROPOSE LAWS AND TO
 PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND TO ADOPT OR REJECT THE SAME,
 AT THE POLLS, INDEPENDENT OF  THE  LEGISLATURE,  AND  ALSO  RESERVE  THE
 POWER, AT THEIR OWN OPTION, TO SO ADOPT OR REJECT ANY ACT, OR SECTION OR
 PART OF ANY ACT, PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
   §  2. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE: A. INITIATIVE IS THE POWER OF THE ELEC-
 TORS TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND TO PROPOSE  STATUTES;
 AND
   B.  REFERENDUM IS THE POWER OF THE ELECTORS TO APPROVE OR REJECT STAT-
 UTES OR PARTS OF STATUTES.
   § 3. INITIATIVE MAY BE USED FOR ANY MEASURE EMBRACING A SINGLE  OBJECT
 OR  PURPOSE,  EXCEPT  THE  FOLLOWING:   CALLING ELECTIONS; APPROPRIATING
 FUNDS, EXCEPT FOR AN INITIATIVE PROPOSING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A  SINGLE
 OBJECT  OR PURPOSE; NAMING ANY INDIVIDUALS TO HOLD ANY OFFICE; OR NAMING
 OR IDENTIFYING ANY  PRIVATE  CORPORATION  OR  OTHER  PRIVATE  ENTITY  TO
 PERFORM ANY FUNCTION OR TO HAVE ANY POWER OR DUTY. SUCH MEASURES MAY NOT
 BE  SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORS AND SHALL NOT HAVE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF
 LAW.
   § 4. AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE MAY BE PROPOSED BY PRESENTING
 TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS A PETITION THAT SETS FORTH THE  TEXT  OF
 THE  PROPOSED  STATUTE,  CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR REFERENDUM AND THAT
 HAS BEEN SIGNED BY ELECTORS EQUAL IN NUMBER TO AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT  OF
 THE VOTES CAST FOR ALL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AT THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL
 ELECTION. SUCH SIGNATURES MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST FIVE THOUSAND SIGNATURES
 FROM EACH OF AT LEAST THREE-FIFTHS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF THE
 STATE.
   §  5. A. PETITIONS FOR AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE SHALL BE IN
 SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FORM AS PRESCRIBED BY THE ELECTION LAW FOR  INDE-
 PENDENT  NOMINATING  PETITIONS, AND SHALL BE CIRCULATED AND PRESENTED IN
 THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY SUCH LAW, EXCEPT THAT THE PETITION SHALL  STATE
 THAT  THE  REGISTERED  VOTER  DESIRES TO HAVE THE SPECIFIC INITIATIVE OR
 S. 2290                             4

 REFERENDUM QUESTION NOTED ON THE PETITION PLACED ON THE  BALLOT  INSTEAD
 OF A CANDIDATE.
   B.  PETITIONS  SHALL  BE  SUBMITTED TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. A
 SIGNATURE MADE EARLIER THAN ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE NEXT GENERAL  ELECTION
 SHALL  NOT BE COUNTED. CHALLENGES TO SUCH PETITIONS SHALL BE RESOLVED BY
 THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW AS PROVIDED FOR
 BY LAW. NO CHALLENGE TO AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MAY  BE  FILED  MORE
 THAN  TEN  DAYS  AFTER  SUBMISSION  OF  PETITIONS  TO THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS, AND ANY SUCH CHALLENGE SHALL BE FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE STATE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITHIN TEN DAYS OF ITS FILING.
   C. MEASURES PROPOSING OR REJECTING STATUTES SHALL  BE  PLACED  ON  THE
 BALLOT BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION HELD
 AT  LEAST NINETY DAYS AFTER SUCH MEASURE IS SUBMITTED.  MEASURES PROPOS-
 ING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT BY  THE
 STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION IN WHICH THERE ARE
 CANDIDATES  FOR  THE  OFFICE OF MEMBER OF THE SENATE OR ASSEMBLY HELD AT
 LEAST NINETY DAYS AFTER THE MEASURE IS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS AND AT THE NEXT SUCH GENERAL ELECTION.
   §  6. A. PRIOR TO THE CIRCULATION OF AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETI-
 TION FOR SIGNATURES, A COPY SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL
 OF  THE  STATE OF NEW YORK WHO SHALL PREPARE A TITLE AND SUMMARY, NOT TO
 EXCEED ONE HUNDRED WORDS, WHICH SHALL APPEAR ON THE PETITION AND ON  THE
 BALLOT  FOR  EACH INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM AND WHICH SHALL GIVE NO INDI-
 CATION OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO  SUCH  MEASURE,  WITHIN  TWENTY  DAYS
 AFTER SUCH MEASURE IS SUBMITTED TO HIM OR HER.
   B.  A  COPY  OF  SUCH  INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETITION SHALL ALSO BE
 SUBMITTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE BILL DRAFTING COMMISSION  OR
 ITS SUCCESSOR PRIOR TO CIRCULATION FOR SIGNATURES. SUCH COMMISSION SHALL
 RENDER  TECHNICAL  COMMENTS ON THE FORM OF THE PROPOSED MEASURE, WITH NO
 INDICATION OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, TO THE PROPONENTS OF  SUCH  MEASURE
 WITHIN TWENTY DAYS OF SUBMISSION.
   C. NO ACTION OR INACTION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE FAILURE OF THE
 LEGISLATIVE  BILL  DRAFTING  COMMISSION  OR  ITS  SUCCESSOR  TO  PROVIDE
 COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO AN INITIATIVE OR  REFERENDUM  PETITION,  OR  TO
 TIMELY DO SO, SHALL AFFECT THE VALIDITY OF SUCH INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM
 PETITION OR THE ACTION OF THE ELECTORS THEREON.
   D.  ANY  ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING IN WHICH ANY QUESTION ARISES AS TO THE
 VALIDITY OF AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE, WHETHER  AN  INITIATIVE
 OR  REFERENDUM  MEASURE  SHOULD APPEAR ON THE BALLOT OR WHICH CHALLENGES
 THE TITLE AND SUMMARY OF SUCH MEASURE PREPARED BY THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL
 AS  FAILING  TO  ACCURATELY DESCRIBE SUCH MEASURE, SHALL BE HEARD IN THE
 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE AND PREFERRED  OVER ALL OTHER CIVIL CAUSES IN
 ALL COURTS OF THE STATE AND SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN  PREFERENCE
 TO  ALL  OTHER  CIVIL BUSINESS PENDING THEREIN.  NO ACTION OR PROCEEDING
 CHALLENGING WHETHER AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE  MAY  APPEAR  ON
 THE  BALLOT  OR  WHICH CHALLENGES ANY ACTION OR INACTION BY THE ATTORNEY
 GENERAL RESPECTING THE TITLE OR SUMMARY OF SUCH MEASURE MAY  BE  BROUGHT
 MORE THAN FOURTEEN DAYS AFTER ACTION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PURSUANT TO
 SUBDIVISION  A OF THIS SECTION OR, IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FAILS TO ACT,
 THEN NO LATER THAN FOURTEEN DAYS AFTER  THE  DEADLINE  FOR  SUCH  ACTION
 PURSUANT TO SUCH SUBDIVISION A.
   § 7. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY SECTION EIGHT OF THIS ARTICLE, A
 MAXIMUM  OF FOUR DISCRETE INITIATIVE MEASURES, OR FOUR DISCRETE REFEREN-
 DUM MEASURES, OR ANY COMBINATION  OF  DISCRETE  INITIATIVE  MEASURES  OR
 REFERENDUM  MEASURES  NOT  TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF FOUR MAY BE SUBMITTED TO
 THE ELECTORS AT ANY ONE GENERAL ELECTION. IF  MORE  THAN  FOUR  MEASURES
 S. 2290                             5
 
 QUALIFY,  THOSE  INITIATIVE MEASURES AND REFERENDA MEASURES SUBMITTED TO
 THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS EARLIEST IN TIME SHALL  BE  PLACED  ON  THE
 BALLOT.
   §  8.  ANY  INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM NOT PLACED ON A BALLOT BECAUSE OF
 THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL  AUTOMATICALLY  BE
 PLACED  ON THE BALLOT FOR THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, NOTWITHSTANDING THE
 PROVISIONS OF SECTION SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 9. A. TO BE ENACTED, AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM  MEASURE  PROPOSING
 OR REJECTING A STATUTE MUST BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS OF
 THE  STATE VOTING ON THE MEASURE STATE-WIDE. AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM
 MEASURE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON  THE  FIRST  DAY  OF
 JANUARY  OF  THE  YEAR  NEXT  SUCCEEDING  ITS PASSAGE UNLESS THE MEASURE
 EXPRESSLY PROVIDES OTHERWISE.  IF  A  REFERENDUM  PETITION  IS  APPROVED
 REPEALING A PART OF A STATUTE, THE REMAINDER OF THE STATUTE SHALL NOT BE
 DELAYED FROM GOING INTO EFFECT.
   B.  A MEASURE AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY
 OF THE ELECTORS OF THE STATE VOTING ON THE  MEASURE  IN  TWO  SUCCESSIVE
 ELECTIONS IN WHICH THERE ARE CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATE OR STATE ASSEM-
 BLY  ON  THE  BALLOT. SUCH MEASURE SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE FIRST DAY OF
 JANUARY OF THE YEAR NEXT SUCCEEDING ITS SECOND APPROVAL UNLESS THE MEAS-
 URE EXPRESSLY PROVIDES OTHERWISE.
   C. IF PROVISIONS OF TWO OR MORE MEASURES APPROVED AT THE SAME ELECTION
 CONFLICT, THOSE OF THE MEASURE RECEIVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF  AFFIRMA-
 TIVE VOTES SHALL PREVAIL.
   D.  A  REFERENDUM MEASURE REJECTING ALL OR PART OF A STATUTE CANNOT BE
 REPEALED, AMENDED OR OTHERWISE RECONSIDERED BY  THE  LEGISLATURE  FOR  A
 PERIOD  OF  TWO  YEARS.  A  MEASURE ADOPTED THROUGH INITIATIVE CANNOT BE
 REPEALED, AMENDED OR OTHERWISE RECONSIDERED BY  THE  LEGISLATURE  FOR  A
 PERIOD  OF  TWO YEARS. AFTER TWO YEARS NO LAW TO AMEND, REPEAL OR OTHER-
 WISE RECONSIDER A MEASURE ADOPTED BY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM SHALL TAKE
 EFFECT UNTIL IT SHALL, AT A GENERAL ELECTION, HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE
 PEOPLE, AND HAVE RECEIVED A MAJORITY OF  ALL  THE  VOTES  CAST  FOR  AND
 AGAINST  IT AT SUCH ELECTION, NOR SHALL IT BE SO SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE
 WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER ITS PASSAGE.
   E. ANY REFERENDUM OR INITIATIVE ADOPTED BY THE VOTERS MAY BE REPEALED,
 AMENDED, OR OTHERWISE RECONSIDERED BY THE PEOPLE AT ANY TIME THROUGH THE
 PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY THIS ARTICLE FOR INITIATIVE OR  REFERENDUM  MEAS-
 URES.
   §  10.  INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES AND COUN-
 TIES. A.  INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM POWERS ARE RESERVED FOR EVERY  CITY,
 TOWN,  VILLAGE AND COUNTY IN THE STATE AS TO ALL LOCAL MATTERS THAT SUCH
 MUNICIPALITY IS OR SHALL BE EMPOWERED TO ACT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE NINE OF
 THIS CONSTITUTION.
   B. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES  AND  COUNTIES
 SHALL  BE  CONDUCTED  IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE;
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT:
   (I) SIGNATURES OF REGISTERED ELECTORS OF SUCH  MUNICIPALITY  EQUAL  IN
 NUMBER  TO AT LEAST THIRTY THOUSAND OR FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTES CAST IN
 SUCH CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE OR COUNTY FOR ALL CANDIDATES  FOR  GOVERNOR  AT
 THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION, WHICHEVER IS LESS, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO
 PROPOSE ANY MEASURE BY INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM;
   (II)  THE  AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ELECTORS OF THE MUNICI-
 PALITY VOTING ON THE MEASURE SHALL BE REQUIRED TO ENACT SUCH MEASURE;
   (III) PETITIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS
 WHICH  SHALL  HAVE  THE  POWERS  CONFERRED AND THE DUTIES IMPOSED ON THE
 STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BY THIS ARTICLE; AND
 S. 2290                             6
 
   (IV) THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION SIX  OF  THIS  ARTICLE
 SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE.
   §  11. THIS ARTICLE OF THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE IN ALL RESPECTS SELF-
 EXECUTING, EXCEPT THAT THE MANNER AND METHOD OF EXERCISING THE POWER  OF
 INITIATIVE  AND REFERENDUM MAY BE PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO LAW, CONSISTENT
 WITH AND LIMITED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 7. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing  amendments
 be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
 next  succeeding  general  election  of members of the assembly, and, in
 conformity with  section  1  of  article  19  of  the  constitution,  be
 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.

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Senate Bill S2290

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Pamela Helming