2012 -- S 2984

=======

LC02640

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

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 (MARRIAGE)

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Lombardo, and Cote

     Date Introduced: May 17, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

1-1

     WHEREAS, The General Assembly seeks to empower the citizens of the State of Rhode

1-2

Island with the right to determine by a vote of the people the question whether to limit marriage

1-3

in the state to a lawful union between one man and one woman; and

1-4

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Supreme Court in Chambers v. Ormiston, Supreme Court

1-5

No. 2006-340, has defined "Marriage" as set forth in R.I.G.L. section 8-10-3(a) as "the state of

1-6

being united to a person of the opposite sex"; now, therefore be it

1-7

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

1-8

Assembly voting therefore, an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of the state shall be

1-9

proposed to the qualified electors of the state for their approval in accordance with the provisions

1-10

of Article XIV of the Constitution, and upon such approval, new section 25, set forth below, be

1-11

added to and included in Article I of the Constitution; and that said proposition of amendment

1-12

shall be submitted to the electors for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general

1-13

election, and said proposition of amendment shall appear on the ballots as the first referendum

1-14

question posed and shall be preceded by the following explanation and space to "approve" or

1-15

"reject," all of which shall be in substantially the following form:

1-16

     1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT-MARRIAGE

1-17

     Approval of this amendment will recognize and define marriage in the state of Rhode

1-18

Island as a lawful union between one man and one woman, provided the recognition and

1-19

definition of marriage shall not prohibit the recognition of a lawful civil union between two (2)

1-20

members of the same gender.

2-1

     APPROVE ________

2-2

     REJECT ________

2-3

     A new section shall be added to and included in Article I of the Constitution to read as

2-4

follows:

2-5

     Section 25. Marriage. – Marriage shall be recognized and defined in Rhode Island as a

2-6

lawful union between one man and one woman, provided the recognition and definition of

2-7

marriage shall not prohibit the recognition of a lawful civil union between two (2) members of the

2-8

same gender.; and be it further

2-9

     RESOLVED, That the voting places in the several cities and towns shall be kept open

2-10

during the hours required by law for voting therein for general officers of the state; and be it

2-11

further

2-12

     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause said proposition of amendment to be

2-13

published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said

2-14

meetings of the said electors; and said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices to

2-15

district meetings of said electors; to district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as

2-16

now provided by law for the town, ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers

2-17

of the state.

     

=======

LC02640

=======

S2984