2015 -- H 5662

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LC001123

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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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 (EMPOWERMENT OF

INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS)

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Roberts, Costa, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     WHEREAS, The participation and vigilance of each citizen and taxpayer is vital to the

health of our form of government;

     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 the following article is hereby amended, effective on January

1, 2017, by adding thereto the following section:

ARTICLE I

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

     Section 25. Standing of individual taxpayer. Any taxpayer shall have the standing to

contest the validity or legality of any governmental expenditure or tax in the appropriate forum.

     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 for

general officers of the state; and be it further

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

be held as aforesaid; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and 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, and

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

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

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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 (EMPOWERMENT OF

INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS)

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     This constitutional amendment would affirm the standing of each individual taxpayer to

contest the validity or legality of any governmental expenditure or tax in the appropriate forum.

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