2001 SESSION

01-0899

04/10

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 15

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment-concurrent resolution provides that the governor shall not propose, nor shall the general court approve, an operating budget in which expenditures exceed estimated revenue.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01-0899

04/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

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 6-b the following new article:

[Art.] 6-c [Expenditure Limitation.] The governor shall not propose, and the general court shall not approve, an operating budget in which expenditures exceed estimated revenues from taxes, fees, and other operating income, plus the balance in any reserve or contingency funds established for the purpose of a legally appropriated unit contained in the operating budget. The governor shall not approve operating expenditures which exceed the taxes, fees, or other operating income, plus any balance of reserve funds established for financial emergencies. The governor and the general court shall not approve any indebtedness for operating expenditures, except during a catastrophic emergency certified as such by the governor and council and a 2/3 vote of the general court.

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, 2002.

III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2002 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2001 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 to insert the following new article: [Art.] 6-c [Expenditure Limitation.] The governor shall not propose, and the general court shall not approve, an operating budget in which expenditures exceed estimated revenues from taxes, fees, and other operating income, plus the balance in any reserve or contingency funds established for the purpose of a legally appropriated unit contained in the operating budget. The governor shall not approve operating expenditures which exceed the taxes, fees, or other operating income, plus any balance of reserve funds established for financial emergencies. The governor and the general court shall not approve any indebtedness for operating expenditures, except during a catastrophic emergency certified as such by the governor and council and a 2/3 vote of the general court."

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 2001 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.