2021 -- S 0595

========

LC002425

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

____________

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

     Introduced By: Senator Samuel W. Bell

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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

assembly voting therefor, the following amendments 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 sections are hereby amended, effective on

January 1, 2023, to read as follows:

ARTICLE VI

OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER

     Section 16. Borrowing power of general assembly.

     (a) The general assembly shall approve all debt that pledges the general obligation of the

state.

     The general assembly shall have no powers, without the express consent of the people, to

incur state debts to an amount exceeding fifty thousand dollars, except in time of war, or in case

of insurrection or invasion; nor shall it in any case, without such consent, pledge the faith of the

state for the payment of the obligations of others. This section shall not be construed to refer to

any money that may be deposited with the state by the government of the United States.

     (b) The general assembly shall have no powers, without the express consent of the

people, to fail to make an appropriation to fully fund actuarially required contributions to any

state pension fund. Should legislation appropriating said funds not pass by the beginning of the

fiscal year, the funds shall be automatically appropriated.

     (c) The general assembly shall have no powers, without the express consent of the

people, to issue any bonds not subject to a pledge of the general obligation of the state, including

private activity bonds, nor shall the general assembly, without the express consent of the people,

have the power to enter into any public-private partnership to finance capital expenditures. This

section shall not be construed to refer to any money that may be deposited with the state by the

government of the United States.

     RESOLVED, That the said proposition of amendments 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 amendments

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.

========

LC002425

========

LC002425 - Page 2 of 3

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

***

     This act would provide for a joint resolution to approve and publish a proposition for a

constitutional amendment which specifies that all debt that pledges the general obligation of the

state be approved by the general assembly. This proposed constitutional amendment would also

require voter approval for appropriations less than the actuarially required contributions to any

state pension fund or for payment on any bond not subject to a pledge of the general obligation of

the state.

========

LC002425

========

LC002425 - Page 3 of 3