INITIATIVE & REFERENDUM PETITIONS S.J.R. K (S-1): FLOOR SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]






Senate Joint Resolution K (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Michelle A. McManus
Committee: Campaign and Election oversight

CONTENT
The joint resolution would amend the State Constitution to require that petitions for initiative or referendum be signed by at least 100 registered electors, unless the Legislature required a greater number of registered electors, in each of at least 42 counties of this State and by at least one registered elector in each county of this State.


Article II, Section 9 of the State Constitution provides for the power of the people to propose laws and to enact and reject laws, called the initiative, and the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the Legislature, called the referendum. For the initiative or referendum to be invoked, petitions must be signed by a number of registered electors equaling a minimum percentage of the total vote cast for all candidates for Governor at the last preceding general election at which a Governor was elected. The percentage is 8% for initiative and 5% for referendum. Under the joint resolution, petitions also would have to meet the representation requirements described above.


Under Article II, the power of referendum does not extend to acts making appropriations for State institutions or to meet deficiencies in State funds. Under the joint resolution, instead, the power of referendum would not extend to general appropriation acts making appropriations that substantially funded one or more State departments or to acts making appropriations to meet deficiencies in State funds.


If two-thirds of the members elected to and serving in each house of the Legislature approved the joint resolution, it would have to be submitted to voters at the next general election.

Legislative Analyst: Craig Laurie

FISCAL IMPACT
The joint resolution would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


Date Completed: 4-17-08 Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco


floor\sjrK Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
 This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sjrk/0708