HF 46

Introduction - 84th Legislature, 2005 1st Special Session

Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to state government; proposing an amendment
to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV, by adding a
section; allowing the legislature to provide for a
referendum on specified spending issues.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
new text end

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, adding a
section to article IV, is proposed to the people. If the
amendment is adopted the section will read:
new text end

new text begin Sec. 27. The legislature may, by a law enacted under the
other provisions of article IV, refer to a vote of the people:
(1) the issuance of public debt, regardless of whether the
purpose of the public debt is authorized by article XI, section
5, and without regard to the requirement that issuance of the
debt be adopted by a vote of at least three-fifths of the
members of each house of the legislature; or (2) any other
expenditure from the state treasury that supports activities
whose benefits become available over an extended period of time,
provided the expenditure may not be used as a substitute for
traditional sources of funding. The legislature may enact laws
to implement this section.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin QUESTION.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at
the 2006 general election. The question proposed must be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to authorize
the legislature to refer certain state spending decisions to a
vote of the people?
new text end

new text begin Yes .......
No ........"
new text end