First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. R97@0646.01 MKD

STATE OF COLORADO

BY SENATOR Alexander

STATE, VETERANS, AND

MILITARY AFFAIRS

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 97-0005

SUBMITTING TO THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF VOTES REQUIRED TO ADOPT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REQUIRING THE APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST STATEWIDE AND A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IN EACH OF A MAJORITY OF COUNTIES TO ADOPT AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

Resolution Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this resolution as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments which may be subsequently adopted.)

Beginning January 1, 1999, requires approval by a majority of votes statewide and a majority of the counties to adopt any amendment to the Colorado constitution.

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty­first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

SECTION 1.  At the next election at which such question may be submitted, there shall be submitted to registered electors of the state of Colorado, for their approval or rejection, the following amendment to the constitution of the state of Colorado, to wit:

Section 1 (4) (a) of article V of the constitution of the state of Colorado is amended to read:

Section 1.  General assembly ­ initiative and referendum. (4) (a)  The veto power of the governor shall not extend to measures initiated by or referred to the people. All elections on measures initiated by or referred to the people of the state shall be held at the biennial regular general election. and all such measures shall become the law or a part of the constitution, when approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon, and not otherwise, and shall take effect from and after the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor, but not later than thirty days after the vote has been canvassed.

ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 1999, ALL PROPOSED LAWS SHALL BECOME LAW WHEN APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST THEREON AND NOT OTHERWISE. ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 1999, ALL PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS SHALL BECOME A PART OF THE CONSTITUTION WHEN APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST THEREON STATEWIDE AND A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IN EACH OF A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES AND NOT OTHERWISE. MEASURES INITIATED BY OR REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE SHALL TAKE EFFECT FROM AND AFTER THE DATE OF THE OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF THE VOTE THEREON BY PROCLAMATION OF THE GOVERNOR, BUT NOT LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE VOTE HAS BEEN CANVASSED. This section shall not be construed to deprive the general assembly of the power to enact any measure.

Section 2 (1) of article XIX of the constitution of the state of Colorado is amended to read:

Section 2.  Amendments to constitution ­ how adopted. (1)  Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be proposed in either house of the general assembly, and, if the same shall be voted for by two­thirds of all the members elected to each house, such proposed amendment or amendments, together with the ayes and noes of each house thereon, shall be entered in full on their respective journals. The proposed amendment or amendments shall be published with the laws of that session of the general assembly. At the next general election for members of the general assembly, the said amendment or amendments shall be submitted to the registered electors of the state for their approval or rejection. and such as are approved by a majority of those voting thereon shall become part of this constitution. ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 1999, SUCH MEASURES AS ARE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THOSE VOTING THEREON STATEWIDE AND A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IN EACH OF A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES SHALL BECOME PART OF THIS CONSTITUTION.

SECTION 2.  Each elector voting at said election and desirous of voting for or against said amendment shall cast a vote as provided by law either "Yes" or "No" on the proposition: "AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF VOTES REQUIRED TO ADOPT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REQUIRING THE APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST STATEWIDE AND A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IN EACH OF A MAJORITY OF COUNTIES TO ADOPT AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION."

SECTION 3.  The votes cast for the adoption or rejection of said amendment shall be canvassed and the result determined in the manner provided by law for the canvassing of votes for representatives in Congress, and if a majority of the electors voting on the question shall have voted "Yes", the said amendment shall become a part of the state constitution.