Bill Text: HI HB1173 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposing Amendments To Articles Ii, Iii, And Xvii Of The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii To Provide For Initiative, Referendum, And Recall.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB1173 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1173-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1173
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES II, III, AND XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROVIDE FOR INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, AND RECALL.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to propose amendments to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide for direct initiative, popular referendum, and recall.  The legislature finds that Hawaii voters lack the power to place initiative measures directly onto the ballot, reject recently enacted laws, or recall elected state officials in Hawaii.  In order to maintain a vibrant democracy with strong checks and balances, voters must be empowered to take a more active role in these checks and balances.  Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to propose constitutional amendments to provide for direct initiative, popular referendum, and recall.

     SECTION 2.  Article II of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended by adding three new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"INITIATIVE

     Section A.  The initiative power is reserved to the people.  An initiative measure may be submitted to the people by filing with the chief election officer an initiative petition containing the signatures of registered voters equaling not less than fifteen percent in the case of a law, and not less than twenty percent in the case of an amendment to the constitution, of the total number of voters who voted for the office of the governor in the last preceding general election for that office.  The initiative petition shall be filed with the chief election officer not later than ninety days prior to the general election at which the initiative measure is to be submitted directly to the people.  All initiative measures shall have printed above the title the following:

"INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE

SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE"

     Each initiative measure shall embrace but one subject, which shall be expressed in its title.  The enacting clause shall be:

"BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE

OF THE STATE OF HAWAII"

     The initiative measure shall be enacted into law when approved by a majority of votes counted for the measure.  If two or more conflicting initiative measures are approved by the people at the same election, the measure receiving the highest number of votes shall prevail.

     No initiative measure shall be submitted that names any individual to hold any office or names or identifies any private corporation to perform any function or to have any power or duty.  No initiative measure shall be submitted that pertains to land use issues.  No initiative measure shall be submitted that compromises, or potentially compromises, public health or public safety.

     No initiative petition shall be filed with the chief election officer that may be either similar or contrary in either form or essential substance to a bill already introduced into the legislature.  If after the adjournment of the legislature sine die, a bill has not become law, or does not carry over, an initiative petition of either similar or contrary form may be filed with the chief election officer for submission to the people.

     If, after an initiative request is made with the attorney general, any bill introduced into the legislature that may be contrary, as determined by the attorney general, in either form or essential substance to the initiative request is enacted into law, that law and that initiative measure shall be submitted to the people in order that they may choose between them, except as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph.  The contrary law shall remain in effect pending the general election ballot.  The measure receiving the highest number of votes shall prevail.  If the initiative measure is approved, the contrary law shall be void.  If any law is enacted that is the same or similar to, and accomplishes the same purpose as an initiative measure, as determined by the attorney general, the chief election officer shall declare, by a public announcement, that the initiative measure is void and order it stricken from the ballot.

     A defeated initiative measure shall not be resubmitted to the people by an initiative petition in either the same form or essential substance, as determined by the attorney general, either affirmatively or negatively, for a period of four years.

     Prior to the circulation of any initiative petition for signatures, a copy shall be submitted to the attorney general, who shall prepare a title and summary of the chief purpose and aim of the proposed measure, as well as a clear explanation written in plain language of the legal effect of a "yes" vote or "no" vote.

     All initiative petitions shall be submitted to the chief election officer for certification.  Each sheet containing petitioners' signatures shall be attached to the title, summary and text of the initiative petition.  No laws shall be enacted limiting the number of copies of a petition that may be circulated.  Any registered voter of the State shall be competent to solicit signatures.  The initiative petition shall be signed by registered voters.  All signers shall add their address as shown on their voter registration form and the date upon which they sign the petition.  Every sheet of the initiative petition containing signatures shall be verified by affidavit of the initiative petition circulator that each name on the sheet was signed in the presence of the affiant and that, in the belief of the affiant, each signer is a registered voter of the State.  The chief election officer shall certify that the signers are registered voters of the State.

     The chief election officer shall not release any initiative petition for inspection by the public or any governmental agency, except if the supreme court orders inspection of the initiative petition when a question has been raised regarding the sufficiency of an initiative petition.  If any initiative petition under this section has been determined to be insufficient, the initiative petition shall be returned to the circulators within thirty days of its filing with the notations of specific insufficiencies.

     Any initiative measure shall be presented to the people in a form that a "yes" vote, on a yes or no ballot, shall indicate approval of the initiative measure as the initiative measure is written; provided that an initiative measure proposing to prohibit a specific activity or to terminate an existing right or privilege shall be submitted to the people in a form that a "yes" vote, on a yes or no ballot, shall indicate that they favor the right to engage in the activity or continuance of the right or privilege and disapproval of the initiative measure.

     The initiative measure shall be effective, if approved, one day after the election results are announced, unless otherwise provided for in the initiative measure.

     The veto power of the governor shall not extend to initiative measures approved by the people.  No initiative measure enacted by the people shall be repealed or amended by the legislature, unless otherwise provided in the initiative measure; provided that the people may amend an enacted initiative measure by a subsequent initiative measure.

     The petitioners shall bear all cost of the preparation and circulation of the initiative petition, except for the services performed by the attorney general under this section.  After the initiative petition has been filed with the chief election officer, all further costs shall be part of the usual expenditures of the State.

REFERENDUM

     Section B.  Referendum is the power of the people to amend or repeal statutes or parts of statutes by ballot.  Referendum shall not be used to make or repeal any appropriation of public funds or to make, amend or repeal the levy of taxes, nor shall the referendum extend to any matter governed by collective bargaining contracts.

     A referendum measure may be proposed by filing with the chief election officer, within ninety days after the enactment date of a statute, a referendum petition asking that the statute or part of it be submitted for a referendum measure.

     A referendum measure shall be certified for placement on the ballot by the chief election officer upon the submission of a referendum petition signed by registered voters of the State equal in number to at least fifteen percent of the total number of voters who voted for the office of the governor in the last preceding general election for that office.  The signatures must include at least ten percent of the voters from a minimum of two counties of the State.

     The referendum measure shall be phrased to require a "yes" or "no" response by the voter.  The chief election officer shall submit the referendum measure at the next general election held at least thirty-one days after it is certified or at a special statewide election held prior to that general election.  A referendum measure that is approved by a majority of voters shall be effective, if approved, one day after the election results are announced, unless the referendum measure provides otherwise.  If a referendum petition is filed against a part of a statute, the remainder of the statute shall not be delayed from becoming effective.

RECALL

     Section C.  Every elected public official of the State may be removed from office by the electors entitled to vote for a successor of the incumbent, through the procedure and in the manner set forth in this section.  This procedure shall be known as recall and shall be in addition to any other method of removal provided by law.  This section shall be self-executing, but the legislature may enact legislation to facilitate its operation; provided that the legislation shall not restrict or limit the provisions of this section or the powers reserved in this section.

     A recall measure may be submitted to the people for a recall vote by filing with the chief election officer a recall petition bearing the signatures of registered voters of not less than twenty percent of all votes cast for all candidates for the office subject to recall at the previous general election of that office.  Only those registered voters who are entitled to cast votes for the official named on the recall petition shall be qualified to sign the recall petition and to vote in the recall election.  The recall petition shall state the reason for the recall vote.  Unresponsiveness to the needs of the official's constituents shall be an adequate reason for the recall of any elected state official.

     No recall petition shall be filed against any elected state official unless the official has served more than six months of the official's term of office.  No recall petition shall be filed within one year of a primary election in which an elected official is required to seek nomination for reelection.  If a recall petition is against an elected state official whose term of office expires at a general election after a forthcoming primary election and the petition is filed no more than          days and not less than          days prior to the primary election, the chief election officer shall cause the recall measure to be submitted to the people at that general election.  All other recall measures shall cause a recall special election to be proclaimed by the chief election officer between           and           days after the recall petition has been determined to be sufficient.

     A recall measure shall be approved by the majority of the votes cast indicating "yes" or "no" thereon but not including blank ballots.  Any vacancy that may be created shall be filled as prescribed by law.

     If a recall vote fails to recall the affected official, the affected official shall not be subject to another recall measure for the remainder of the term of office to which the official was elected to serve.

     Prior to the circulation of any recall petition for signature, a copy shall be submitted to the attorney general, who shall prepare a title and summary of the chief purpose and aim of the proposed recall measure within seven business days.  The title and summary shall not exceed          words.

     All recall petitions shall be submitted for certification to the chief election officer.  Every sheet of the recall petition containing signatures shall be attached to the title, summary and text of the recall petition.  No laws shall be enacted limiting the number of copies of a recall petition that may be circulated.  Any registered voter of this State shall be competent to solicit signatures.  No person circulating a recall petition shall be eligible to receive any compensation for services as a recall petition circulator.  All signers shall add their address as shown on their voter registration form and the date upon which they signed the recall petition.  When fewer than five thousand signatures are required on a recall petition, the recall petition circulators shall have sixty days in which to obtain the required number of signatures of qualified voters; when between five thousand and ten thousand signatures are required, the recall petition circulators shall have ninety days; when between ten thousand and fifty thousand signatures are required, the recall petition circulators shall have one hundred twenty days; when between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand signatures are required, the recall petition circulators shall have one hundred sixty days; and when more than one hundred thousand signatures are required, the recall petition circulators shall have one hundred eighty days.

     Every sheet of the recall petition containing signatures shall be verified by affidavit of the recall petition circulator that each name on the sheet was signed in the presence of the affiant and that in the belief of the affiant each signer is a registered voter of the State, and of the affected district in the case of a recall petition so limited.  The chief election officer shall certify that the signers are registered voters of the State, and of the affected district in the case of a recall petition so limited.

     The chief election officer shall not release a recall petition for inspection by the public or any governmental agency, except where the supreme court orders inspection of the recall petition, when a question has been raised regarding the sufficiency of the recall petition.  If any recall petition under this section has been determined to be insufficient, the recall petition shall be returned to the circulators within sixty days of its filing with a statement of the specific insufficiencies.  Recall petition circulators shall have additional time in which to correct the specific insufficiencies of a recall petition, in accordance with the provisions of this section governing the amount of time allowed to obtain petitioners' signatures.

     Any recall measure shall be presented to the people in a form that a "yes" vote, on a yes or no ballot, shall indicate an affirmative vote for the measure as the measure is written.

     A recall measure shall be effective, if approved, one day after the election results are announced, unless otherwise provided for in the recall measure.

     The petitioners shall bear all costs of the preparation and circulation of the recall petition, except for the services performed by the attorney general under this section.  After the recall petition has been filed with the chief election officer, all further costs shall be part of the usual expenditures of the State."

     SECTION 3.  Article III, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"LEGISLATIVE POWER

     Section 1.  [The] Except as provided in Section A of Article II, the legislative power of the State shall be vested in a legislature, which shall consist of two houses, a senate and a house of representatives[.  Such power], but the people reserve to themselves the powers of initiative and referendum as set forth in Sections A and B of Article II.  The legislative power shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation not inconsistent with this constitution or the Constitution of the United States."

     SECTION 4.  Article III, section 14, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"BILLS; ENACTMENT

     Section 14.  No law shall be passed by the legislature except by bill.  Each law shall embrace but one subject, which shall be expressed in its title.  The enacting clause of each law shall be, "Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of Hawaii."

     SECTION 5.  Article XVII, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"METHODS OF PROPOSAL

     Section 1.  Revisions of or amendments to this constitution may be proposed by constitutional convention or by the legislature[.] or by the people under Section A of Article II through the initiative process."

     SECTION 6.  Article XVII, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"VETO

     Section 4.  No proposal for amendment of the constitution adopted in either manner provided by this article or by Section A or B of Article II on initiative or referendum shall be subject to veto by the governor."

     SECTION 7.  Article XVII, section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"CONFLICTING REVISIONS OR AMENDMENTS

     Section 5.  If a revision or amendment proposed by a constitutional convention is in conflict with a revision or amendment proposed by the legislature and both are submitted to the electorate at the same election and both are approved, then the revision or amendment proposed by the convention shall prevail.  If a revision or amendment proposed by the legislature is in conflict with the revision or amendment proposed by the people under Section A of Article II by initiative, and both are approved, then the revision or amendment proposed by initiative shall prevail.  If conflicting revisions or amendments are proposed by the same body and are submitted to the electorate at the same election and both are approved, then the revision or amendment receiving the highest number of votes shall prevail."

     SECTION 8.  The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

     "Shall the State Constitution be amended to provide for initiative, referendum, and recall?"

     SECTION 9.  In codifying the new sections added to article II of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii by section 2 of this Act and any cross references thereto, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 10.  Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New constitutional material is underscored.

     SECTION 11.  This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Amendments to Hawaii Constitution; Initiative; Referendum; Recall

 

Description:

Adds new sections to the Hawaii Constitution.  Allows for amendments by initiative to prevail and reserves the powers of initiative and referendum to the people.  Specifies a procedure for vote recalls.

 

 

 

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