BILL NUMBER: S7219
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to language used in a
proposed amendment, proposition or question to be submitted to the
people for their approval; and to repeal certain provisions of such law
relating thereto
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure that proposed amendments, propositions or questions placed
before voters contain language agreed upon by the Legislature and the
Executive. Additionally, the agreed text to be placed before voters
cannot be altered without the approval of the Legislature.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill changes the process by which the language used in amendments,
propositions or questions is presented to voters. It states that any
legislation enacting any of the aforementioned must contain the exact
language that is to be used on ballots submitted to voters for their
consideration. If any changes to the text are proposed after the legis-
lation has been signed into law those changes must be re-approved by the
Legislature.
The attorney general would no longer advise in the preparation of the
text of amendments, propositions or questions.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, language used in amendments, propositions or questions
submitted before the voting public are subject to influence by the Exec-
utive. This was evidenced in 2013 when the text of the constitutional
amendment to allow for casino gaming mirrored the comments of the gover-
nor and other proponents of such amendment.
This bill would allow for an objective process whereby the language to
be used in an amendment, proposition or question submitted before voters
will be included in the bill text of the legislation calling for such
action. This will limit the amount of influence that the language of the
text used in an amendment, proposition or question has when being
considered by voters.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24-S.1512 - Judiciary Committee
2021-22- S.3780 - Elections Committee.
2019-20 - S.2016 - Elections Committee.
2018 - S. 4757 - Passed Senate/A. 8392 - Election Law Committee.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

Statutes affected:
S7219: 4-108 election law, 4-108(2) election law, 4-108(3) election law