LD 1308
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LD 1308 Title Page RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Restrict the... Page 2 of 3
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LR 1103
Item 1

 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the
Constitution of Maine be proposed:

 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §24 is enacted to read:

 
24.__Timing of referenda.__Except for ratification of the
voters pursuant to a people's veto under Article IV, Part
Third, Section 17 or a direct initiative pursuant to Article
IV, Part Third, Section 18 whenever ratification by a majority
of the electors is essential to the validity of a legislative
measure, the referendum question must appear on the ballot at
a general election.

 
Constitution, Art. IX, §14, as amended by CR 2001, c. 1, is further
amended to read:

 
Section 14. Authority and procedure for issuance of bonds.
The credit of the State shall not be directly or indirectly
loaned in any case, except as provided in sections 14-A, 14-B,
14-C and 14-D. The Legislature shall not create any debt or
debts, liability or liabilities, on behalf of the State, which
shall singly, or in the aggregate, with previous debts and
liabilities hereafter incurred at any one time, exceed
$2,000,000, except to suppress insurrection, to repel
invasion, or for purposes of war, and except for temporary
loans to be paid out of money raised by taxation during the
fiscal year in which they are made, and except for loans to be
repaid within 12 months with federal transportation funds in
amounts not to exceed 50% of transportation funds appropriated
by the Federal Government in the prior federal fiscal year;
and excepting also that whenever 2/3 of both Houses shall deem
it necessary, by proper enactment ratified by a majority of
the electors voting thereon at a general or special election,
the Legislature may authorize the issuance of bonds on behalf
of the State at such times and in such amounts and for such
purposes as approved by such action; but this shall not be
construed to refer to any money that has been, or may be
deposited with this State by the Government of the United
States, or to any fund which the State shall hold in trust for
any Indian tribe. Whenever ratification by the electors is
essential to the validity of bonds to be issued on behalf of
the State, the question submitted to the electors shall be
accompanied by a statement setting forth the total amount of
bonds of the State outstanding and unpaid, the total amount of
bonds of the State authorized and unissued, and the total
amount of bonds of the State contemplated to be issued if the
enactment submitted to the electors be ratified. For any bond
authorization requiring ratification of the electors pursuant
to this section, if any bonds have not been issued within 5
years of the date of ratification, then those bonds may not be
issued


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