2021 -- S 0015

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LC000758

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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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 SECRETARY OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL OR

GENERAL TREASURER

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Raptakis, Gallo, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     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 that it take the place of Article IV Section 4 which is hereby

amended to read as follows:

ARTICLE IV

OF ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE

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

of state, attorney general, or general treasurer

     In case of a vacancy in the office of the secretary of state, attorney-general, or general

treasurer from for any cause, the general assembly in grand committee shall elect some person to

fill the same if the vacancy occurs with less than one year remaining in the unexpired term. If the

vacancy occurs with more than one year remaining in the unexpired term then it shall be filled

through a special election. ; provided, that if such vacancy occurs when the general assembly is

not in session the governor shall appoint some person to fill such vacancy until a successor

elected by the general assembly is qualified to act.

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

Article IV Section 4 of the Constitution;

     It is further

     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 -- PROCEDURE TO FILL

VACANCY IN OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL OR

GENERAL TREASURER

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     This joint resolution would present to the electors a Rhode Island constitutional

amendment which would create a procedure to fill vacancies in the offices of secretary of state,

attorney general or general treasurer.

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LC000758

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