HF 544

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/17/2011 09:53am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota
Constitution, article XI; forbidding standing appropriations.

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

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

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the
amendment is adopted, a section shall be added to article XI, to read:
new text end

new text begin Sec. 16. new text end

new text begin The legislature may not enact a law that appropriates money from the state
general fund for a period beyond the biennium in which the appropriation is enacted. For
purposes of this section, a biennium is the period beginning on July 1 of an odd-numbered
year and ending June 30 of the following odd-numbered year. Any appropriation enacted
before the adoption of this section is void after June 30 of the first odd-numbered year
after this section is adopted to the extent the appropriation purports to authorize spending
after that date. This section does not apply to appropriations to the state bond fund needed
to pay principal and interest on state bonds.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2012 general
election. The question submitted must be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to forbid the legislature from
appropriating money from the state general fund for a period beyond the biennium in
which the appropriation is enacted, except for appropriations necessary to pay principal
and interest on state bonds?
new text end

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