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Provides for initiative and referendum in New York State for the People as electors to propose or reject laws and submit amendments to the state constitution
(R, C, IP) 54th Senate District
| Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE | |
|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2024 | opinion referred to judiciary |
| Jan 04, 2024 | to attorney-general for opinion |
| Jan 03, 2024 | referred to judiciary |
| Feb 23, 2023 | opinion referred to judiciary |
| Jan 20, 2023 | to attorney-general for opinion |
| Jan 19, 2023 | referred to judiciary |
(R, C) 57th Senate District
See Assembly Version of this Bill: A2933 Current Committee: Senate Judiciary Law Section: Constitution, Concurrent Resolutions to Amend Laws Affected: Amd Art 3 §§13, 14 & 16, Art 19 §1, Art 4 §7, ren Art 20 to be Art 21, add Art 20 §§1 - 11, Constn Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions: 2009-2010: S6429
2011-2012: S709
2013-2014: S4049
2015-2016: S879
2017-2018: S404
2019-2020: S70
2021-2022: S5864, A4674
Provides for initiative and referendum in New York State for the People as electors to propose or reject laws and submit amendments to the state constitution.
BILL NUMBER: S2290 SPONSOR: HELMING TITLE OF BILL: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing amendments to the constitution, in relation to providing the electors with the power of initiative and referendum PURPOSE: This proposal would amend the New York State constitution to reserve for the People of the State the powers of initiative and referendum. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Sections 1 through 5 of the concurrent resolution would amend section 13 of Article 3, Section 14 of Article 3, Section 1 of Article 19, section 16 of Article 3 and Section 7 of Article 4 of the State Constitution, respectively, to accommodate a new Article 20 to reserve to the People of the state the powers of initiative and referendum (I&R).
Section 6 of the concurrent resolution would renumber Article 20 of the Constitution Article 21 and provides for a new Article 20. The new Arti- cle 20 would reserve to New Yorkers the power to Propose laws and amend- ments to the Constitution, and to adopt or reject laws independent of the Legislature. Initiative is the power of the electors to propose statutes and amendments to the Constitution and referendum is the power to approve or reject statutes or part of statutes. For an initiative or referendum measure to appear on a ballot, a petition setting forth the proposal must be filed with the State Board of Elections and be signed by electors at least equal in number to 5 percent of the votes cast for all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial election. Such signatures must include at least 5,000 signatures from each of at least three-fifths of the State's congressional districts. The process for gathering signatures for a petition in support of an I&R proposal and for presenting the petition to the Board of Elections shall be conducted in substantial conformity with Election Law provisions governing inde- pendent petitions. Prior to circulation of a petition for signatures, a copy of the initi- ative or referendum shall be submitted to the Attorney General who shall prepare a title and summary of the measure which shall not give any indication of support or opposition to such measure. The measure shall also be submitted to the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission for tech- nical comments on the form of the measure. Any action or proceeding in which a question arises as to the validity of a measure or which chal- lenges the title and summary of such measure shall be granted a prefer- ence in all courts. To be enacted, an initiative or referendum measure must be approved by a majority of the electors voting on the measure statewide. A measure proposing or rejecting a statute that has been approved shall be effec- tive on the first day of January of the year next succeeding its passage unless the measure expressly provides otherwise. A measure amending the constitution must be approved by a majority of the electors voting on the measure statewide in two successive elections in which there are candidates for the state senate and Assembly. I&R shall be permitted for any measure except the following: (i) calling for elections; (ii) appro- priating funds, except for a single object or purpose, (iii) naming any individuals to hold office, or (iv) granting any power or duty to any private entity or directing such entity to perform a function. An initi- ative measure embracing more than one subject is not permitted and a maximum of four discrete measures may be submitted at anyone general election. The Legislature shall be prohibited from repealing or amending a measure adopted or rejected through I&R for a period of two years. After two years, any legislative proposal to amend or repeal an I&R measure shall be put to the voters at the next general election for approval or rejection. This constitutional amendment will also reserve to the citizens of all cities, towns and counties the power of I&R. signatures of electors of a municipality equal in number to at least 5 percent of the votes cast in such municipality for all candidates for governor at the last gubernato- rial election will be required to propose any measure by I&R and an affirmative vote of the majority of electors voting on the measure will be required to be enacted. Petitions shall be submitted to the county board of elections which will resolve challenges to such petitions. Section 7 would provide for submission of this constitutional amendment to the first regular session of the Legislature after the next succeed- ing general election of the members of the Assembly. EXISTING LAW: The People of the state do not currently have the constitutional right to enact laws, amend the constitution or repeal laws by initiative or referendum. Section 13 of Article 3 of the constitution provides that no law shall be enacted except by bill. Section 14 of Article 3 of the constitution provides that no bill shall become law except by the assent of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the Legislature. Section 1 of Article 19 of the Constitution provides that proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be effective if they are agreed to by a majority of. the members of both branches of two successive Legis- latures and subsequently approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon. Section 7 of Article 4 of the Constitution provides that every bill that passes the Legislature must be presented to the Governor for approval. Section 16 of Article 3 provides that no act shall be passed which provides that an existing law shall be deemed a part of the act, except by inserting the law into the act. Amending the State constitu- tion to allow initiative and referendum will provide the citizens of New York the ability to enact laws which are specifically addressed to their concerns. This procedure is a reflection of the basic tenet of democracy which embodies government by the people, of the People and for the People. I&R is an integral mechanism for voters to exercise a direct and active role. in enacting and defeating laws. The People of New York deserve a greater voice in government and will citizenry. I&R will provide voters stronger representation and allow them to act when their elected representatives fail to do so. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2011: Passed Senate 2012: Committed to Senate Rules, 2013-2014: Referred to Senate Judiciary 2015-2016: Referred to Senate Judiciary 2017-2018: Referred to Senate Judiciary 2019-2020: S.70 Referred to Judiciary 2021-2022: S.5864 Referred to Judiciary/A.4674 Referred to Judiciary FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None. EFFECTIVE DATE: Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 2290 2023-2024 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E January 19, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing amendments to the constitution, in relation to providing the electors with the power of initiative and referendum Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 13 of arti- cle 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: § 13. The enacting clause of all bills shall be "The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows," and no law shall be enacted except by bill; EXCEPT AS OTHER- WISE PROVIDED IN ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION. § 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the opening paragraph of section 14 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: A. No bill shall be passed or become a law unless it shall have been printed and upon the desks of the members, in its final form, at least three calendar legislative days prior to its final passage, unless the governor, or the acting governor, shall have certified, under his or her hand and the seal of the state, the facts which in his or her opinion necessitate an immediate vote thereon, in which case it must neverthe- less be upon the desks of the members in final form, not necessarily printed, before its final passage; nor shall any bill be passed or become a law, except by the assent of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the legislature; and upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereof shall be allowed, and the question upon its final passage shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the ayes and nays entered on the journal. B. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION. § 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of article 19 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD89047-01-3
S. 2290 2 Section 1. A. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be proposed in the senate and assembly whereupon such amendment or amend- ments shall be referred to the attorney-general whose duty it shall be within twenty days thereafter to render an opinion in writing to the senate and assembly as to the effect of such amendment or amendments upon other provisions of the constitution. Upon receiving such opinion, if the amendment or amendments as proposed or as amended shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals, and the ayes and noes taken thereon, and referred to the next regular legis- lative session convening after the succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and shall be published for three months previ- ous to the time of making such choice; and if in such legislative session, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members elected to each house, then it shall be the duty of the legislature to submit each proposed amendment or amendments to the people for approval in such manner and at such times as the legislature shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments by a majority of the electors voting there- on, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the constitution on the first day of January next after such approval. Neither the fail- ure of the attorney-general to render an opinion concerning such a proposed amendment nor his or her failure to do so timely shall affect [th] THE validity of such proposed amendment or legislative action ther- eon. B. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO AN AMENDMENT BY INITIATIVE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION. § 4. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 16 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: § 16. A. No act shall be passed which shall provide that any existing law, or any part thereof, shall be made or deemed a part of said act, or which shall enact that any existing law, or part thereof, shall be applicable, except by inserting it in such act. B. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION. § 5. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 7 of article 4 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: § 7. A. Every bill which shall have passed the senate and assembly shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor; if the governor approve, he or she shall sign it; but if not, he or she shall return it with his or her objections to the house in which it shall have originated, which shall enter the objections at large on the journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members elected to that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered; and if approved by two-thirds of the members elected to that house, it shall become a law notwithstanding the objections of the governor. In all such cases the votes in both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the governor within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him or her, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he or she had signed it, unless the legislature shall, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not become a law without the approval of the governor. No bill shall become a law after the final adjournment of the legislature, S. 2290 3 unless approved by the governor within thirty days after such adjourn- ment. If any bill presented to the governor contain several items of appropriation of money, the governor may object to one or more of such items while approving of the other portion of the bill. In such case the governor shall append to the bill, at the time of signing it, a state- ment of the items to which he or she objects; and the appropriation so objected to shall not take effect. If the legislature be in session, he or she shall transmit to the house in which the bill originated a copy of such statement, and the items objected to shall be separately recon- sidered. If on reconsideration one or more of such items be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each house, the same shall be part of the law, notwithstanding the objections of the governor. All the provisions of this section, in relation to bills not approved by the governor, shall apply in cases in which he or she shall withhold approval from any item or items contained in a bill appropriating money. B. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY OF THIS CONSTITUTION. § 6. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article 20 of the consti- tution be renumbered article 21 and a new article 20 be added to read as follows: ARTICLE XX INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM SECTION 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS CONSTITUTION, THE PEOPLE RESERVE TO THEMSELVES THE POWER TO PROPOSE LAWS AND TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND TO ADOPT OR REJECT THE SAME, AT THE POLLS, INDEPENDENT OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND ALSO RESERVE THE POWER, AT THEIR OWN OPTION, TO SO ADOPT OR REJECT ANY ACT, OR SECTION OR PART OF ANY ACT, PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE. § 2. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE: A. INITIATIVE IS THE POWER OF THE ELEC- TORS TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND TO PROPOSE STATUTES; AND B. REFERENDUM IS THE POWER OF THE ELECTORS TO APPROVE OR REJECT STAT- UTES OR PARTS OF STATUTES. § 3. INITIATIVE MAY BE USED FOR ANY MEASURE EMBRACING A SINGLE OBJECT OR PURPOSE, EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING: CALLING ELECTIONS; APPROPRIATING FUNDS, EXCEPT FOR AN INITIATIVE PROPOSING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A SINGLE OBJECT OR PURPOSE; NAMING ANY INDIVIDUALS TO HOLD ANY OFFICE; OR NAMING OR IDENTIFYING ANY PRIVATE CORPORATION OR OTHER PRIVATE ENTITY TO PERFORM ANY FUNCTION OR TO HAVE ANY POWER OR DUTY. SUCH MEASURES MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORS AND SHALL NOT HAVE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF LAW. § 4. AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE MAY BE PROPOSED BY PRESENTING TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS A PETITION THAT SETS FORTH THE TEXT OF THE PROPOSED STATUTE, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR REFERENDUM AND THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY ELECTORS EQUAL IN NUMBER TO AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTES CAST FOR ALL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AT THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION. SUCH SIGNATURES MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST FIVE THOUSAND SIGNATURES FROM EACH OF AT LEAST THREE-FIFTHS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF THE STATE. § 5. A. PETITIONS FOR AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE SHALL BE IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FORM AS PRESCRIBED BY THE ELECTION LAW FOR INDE- PENDENT NOMINATING PETITIONS, AND SHALL BE CIRCULATED AND PRESENTED IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY SUCH LAW, EXCEPT THAT THE PETITION SHALL STATE THAT THE REGISTERED VOTER DESIRES TO HAVE THE SPECIFIC INITIATIVE OR S. 2290 4 REFERENDUM QUESTION NOTED ON THE PETITION PLACED ON THE BALLOT INSTEAD OF A CANDIDATE. B. PETITIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. A SIGNATURE MADE EARLIER THAN ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION SHALL NOT BE COUNTED. CHALLENGES TO SUCH PETITIONS SHALL BE RESOLVED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW AS PROVIDED FOR BY LAW. NO CHALLENGE TO AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MAY BE FILED MORE THAN TEN DAYS AFTER SUBMISSION OF PETITIONS TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, AND ANY SUCH CHALLENGE SHALL BE FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITHIN TEN DAYS OF ITS FILING. C. MEASURES PROPOSING OR REJECTING STATUTES SHALL BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION HELD AT LEAST NINETY DAYS AFTER SUCH MEASURE IS SUBMITTED. MEASURES PROPOS- ING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION IN WHICH THERE ARE CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF MEMBER OF THE SENATE OR ASSEMBLY HELD AT LEAST NINETY DAYS AFTER THE MEASURE IS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND AT THE NEXT SUCH GENERAL ELECTION. § 6. A. PRIOR TO THE CIRCULATION OF AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETI- TION FOR SIGNATURES, A COPY SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHO SHALL PREPARE A TITLE AND SUMMARY, NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED WORDS, WHICH SHALL APPEAR ON THE PETITION AND ON THE BALLOT FOR EACH INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM AND WHICH SHALL GIVE NO INDI- CATION OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO SUCH MEASURE, WITHIN TWENTY DAYS AFTER SUCH MEASURE IS SUBMITTED TO HIM OR HER. B. A COPY OF SUCH INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETITION SHALL ALSO BE SUBMITTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE BILL DRAFTING COMMISSION OR ITS SUCCESSOR PRIOR TO CIRCULATION FOR SIGNATURES. SUCH COMMISSION SHALL RENDER TECHNICAL COMMENTS ON THE FORM OF THE PROPOSED MEASURE, WITH NO INDICATION OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, TO THE PROPONENTS OF SUCH MEASURE WITHIN TWENTY DAYS OF SUBMISSION. C. NO ACTION OR INACTION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE FAILURE OF THE LEGISLATIVE BILL DRAFTING COMMISSION OR ITS SUCCESSOR TO PROVIDE COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETITION, OR TO TIMELY DO SO, SHALL AFFECT THE VALIDITY OF SUCH INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETITION OR THE ACTION OF THE ELECTORS THEREON. D. ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN WHICH ANY QUESTION ARISES AS TO THE VALIDITY OF AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE, WHETHER AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE SHOULD APPEAR ON THE BALLOT OR WHICH CHALLENGES THE TITLE AND SUMMARY OF SUCH MEASURE PREPARED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS FAILING TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE SUCH MEASURE, SHALL BE HEARD IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE AND PREFERRED OVER ALL OTHER CIVIL CAUSES IN ALL COURTS OF THE STATE AND SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN PREFERENCE TO ALL OTHER CIVIL BUSINESS PENDING THEREIN. NO ACTION OR PROCEEDING CHALLENGING WHETHER AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE MAY APPEAR ON THE BALLOT OR WHICH CHALLENGES ANY ACTION OR INACTION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RESPECTING THE TITLE OR SUMMARY OF SUCH MEASURE MAY BE BROUGHT MORE THAN FOURTEEN DAYS AFTER ACTION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION A OF THIS SECTION OR, IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FAILS TO ACT, THEN NO LATER THAN FOURTEEN DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR SUCH ACTION PURSUANT TO SUCH SUBDIVISION A. § 7. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY SECTION EIGHT OF THIS ARTICLE, A MAXIMUM OF FOUR DISCRETE INITIATIVE MEASURES, OR FOUR DISCRETE REFEREN- DUM MEASURES, OR ANY COMBINATION OF DISCRETE INITIATIVE MEASURES OR REFERENDUM MEASURES NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF FOUR MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORS AT ANY ONE GENERAL ELECTION. IF MORE THAN FOUR MEASURES S. 2290 5 QUALIFY, THOSE INITIATIVE MEASURES AND REFERENDA MEASURES SUBMITTED TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS EARLIEST IN TIME SHALL BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT. § 8. ANY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM NOT PLACED ON A BALLOT BECAUSE OF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE. § 9. A. TO BE ENACTED, AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE PROPOSING OR REJECTING A STATUTE MUST BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS OF THE STATE VOTING ON THE MEASURE STATE-WIDE. AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY OF THE YEAR NEXT SUCCEEDING ITS PASSAGE UNLESS THE MEASURE EXPRESSLY PROVIDES OTHERWISE. IF A REFERENDUM PETITION IS APPROVED REPEALING A PART OF A STATUTE, THE REMAINDER OF THE STATUTE SHALL NOT BE DELAYED FROM GOING INTO EFFECT. B. A MEASURE AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS OF THE STATE VOTING ON THE MEASURE IN TWO SUCCESSIVE ELECTIONS IN WHICH THERE ARE CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATE OR STATE ASSEM- BLY ON THE BALLOT. SUCH MEASURE SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY OF THE YEAR NEXT SUCCEEDING ITS SECOND APPROVAL UNLESS THE MEAS- URE EXPRESSLY PROVIDES OTHERWISE. C. IF PROVISIONS OF TWO OR MORE MEASURES APPROVED AT THE SAME ELECTION CONFLICT, THOSE OF THE MEASURE RECEIVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF AFFIRMA- TIVE VOTES SHALL PREVAIL. D. A REFERENDUM MEASURE REJECTING ALL OR PART OF A STATUTE CANNOT BE REPEALED, AMENDED OR OTHERWISE RECONSIDERED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. A MEASURE ADOPTED THROUGH INITIATIVE CANNOT BE REPEALED, AMENDED OR OTHERWISE RECONSIDERED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. AFTER TWO YEARS NO LAW TO AMEND, REPEAL OR OTHER- WISE RECONSIDER A MEASURE ADOPTED BY INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM SHALL TAKE EFFECT UNTIL IT SHALL, AT A GENERAL ELECTION, HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE, AND HAVE RECEIVED A MAJORITY OF ALL THE VOTES CAST FOR AND AGAINST IT AT SUCH ELECTION, NOR SHALL IT BE SO SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER ITS PASSAGE. E. ANY REFERENDUM OR INITIATIVE ADOPTED BY THE VOTERS MAY BE REPEALED, AMENDED, OR OTHERWISE RECONSIDERED BY THE PEOPLE AT ANY TIME THROUGH THE PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY THIS ARTICLE FOR INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEAS- URES. § 10. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES AND COUN- TIES. A. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM POWERS ARE RESERVED FOR EVERY CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE AND COUNTY IN THE STATE AS TO ALL LOCAL MATTERS THAT SUCH MUNICIPALITY IS OR SHALL BE EMPOWERED TO ACT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE NINE OF THIS CONSTITUTION. B. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES AND COUNTIES SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT: (I) SIGNATURES OF REGISTERED ELECTORS OF SUCH MUNICIPALITY EQUAL IN NUMBER TO AT LEAST THIRTY THOUSAND OR FIVE PERCENT OF THE VOTES CAST IN SUCH CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE OR COUNTY FOR ALL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AT THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION, WHICHEVER IS LESS, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROPOSE ANY MEASURE BY INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM; (II) THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF ELECTORS OF THE MUNICI- PALITY VOTING ON THE MEASURE SHALL BE REQUIRED TO ENACT SUCH MEASURE; (III) PETITIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS WHICH SHALL HAVE THE POWERS CONFERRED AND THE DUTIES IMPOSED ON THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BY THIS ARTICLE; AND S. 2290 6 (IV) THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION SIX OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE. § 11. THIS ARTICLE OF THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE IN ALL RESPECTS SELF- EXECUTING, EXCEPT THAT THE MANNER AND METHOD OF EXERCISING THE POWER OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM MAY BE PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO LAW, CONSISTENT WITH AND LIMITED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE. § 7. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
