Bill Text: NH CACR18 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the general court. Providing that the house or the senate may independently order a referendum to reduce a penalty established in law.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-11 - Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 03/11/2020 House Journal 7 P. 41 [CACR18 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2020-CACR18-Introduced.html
CACR 18 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2476
06/04
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the house or the senate may independently order a referendum to reduce a penalty established in law.
SPONSORS: Rep. Abramson, Rock. 20
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
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ANALYSIS
This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution provides that the house or the senate, may, independently, place a referendum on the state ballot to reduce a penalty established by law.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type
20-2476
06/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the house or the senate may independently order a referendum to reduce a penalty established in law.
Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the
Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:
I. That the second part of the constitution be amended by inserting after article 5 the following new article:
[Art.] 5-a. [Power to Place Referendum on State Ballot.] Either the house of representatives or the senate, acting independently, may place a referendum on the state ballot to reduce a penalty established in law. If a majority of voters approve the measure, the reduction in penalty shall take effect upon passage and shall not be increased until the subsequent state election.
II. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2020.
III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2020 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2020 session of the general court shall be approved.
IV. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:
“Are you in favor of amending the second part of the constitution by inserting after article 5 a new article to read as follows:
[Art.] 5-a. [Power to Place Referendum on State Ballot.] Either the house of representatives or the senate, acting independently, may place a referendum on the state ballot to reduce a penalty established in law. If a majority of voters approve the measure, the reduction in penalty shall take effect upon passage and shall not be increased until the subsequent state election."
V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2020 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.
VI. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.
VII. Voters' Guide.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, a penalty established by law can only be amended by a bill that goes through the legislative process and receives a majority vote of the members of both houses of the legislature.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, the house of representatives, or the senate, could place a referendum on the state ballot to reduce a penalty established by law.
