2013 -- S 0328

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LC00526

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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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 -- PROCEDURE TO FILL

VACANCY IN OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE SECRETARY OF

STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL OR GENERAL TREASURER

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Cote, and Walaska

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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

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assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed to

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the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the

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Constitution for their approval and that it take the place of Article IV Section 4 which is hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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     SECTION 4. Temporary appointment Procedure to fill vacancies in office of

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lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, or general treasurer. – Special

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elections to fill vacancies in office of lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney-

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general, or general treasurer. – (a) In case of a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant

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governor, the secretary of state, attorney-general, or general treasurer from for any cause, reason,

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if there are less than two (2) years remaining in the term of the office, the general assembly in

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grand committee shall elect some person to fill the same; provided, that if such vacancy occurs

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when the general assembly is not in session the governor shall appoint some person to fill such

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vacancy until a successor elected by the general assembly is qualified to act.

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     (b) In case of a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state,

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attorney general, or general treasurer for any reason, if there are two (2) or more years remaining

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in the term of the office a new election shall be held for the purpose of filling the vacancy. The

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general assembly shall provide by general law for the holding of such elections. Every person

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elected in accordance with this section shall hold office for the remainder of the term or for the

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full term, as the case may be, of the office which that person is elected to fill and until a successor

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is elected and qualified.

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     RESOLVED, That this amendment shall take, in the Constitution of the state, the place of

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Article IV Section 4 of the Constitution;

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     It is further

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     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors

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for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the

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several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for

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general officers of the state; and be it further

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

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

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

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to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town, ward,

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or district meetings and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or district meetings to

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be held as aforesaid; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be

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warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and

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

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ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.

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LC00526

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