S 0709 Joint Resolution, By McConnell
 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of South
 Carolina, 1895, by adding Section 17 to Article X so as to authorize the
 qualified electors of a county, municipality, special purpose district,
 fiscally autonomous school district, and other political subdivisions to
 submit any legislation instrument by a petition process, including one
 limiting the total revenue which a county, municipality, special purpose
 district, fiscally autonomous school district, and other political
 subdivisions may expend during a fiscal year, provide for the mandatory
 adoption of the legislative instrument, and provide that the initiated
 ordinance or resolution may not be amended or repealed except by the petition
 initiated procedure.

   04/06/95  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   04/06/95  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-9

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, BY ADDING SECTION 17 TO ARTICLE X SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF A COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT, FISCALLY AUTONOMOUS SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO SUBMIT ANY LEGISLATION INSTRUMENT BY A PETITION PROCESS, INCLUDING ONE LIMITING THE TOTAL REVENUE WHICH A COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT, FISCALLY AUTONOMOUS SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS MAY EXPEND DURING A FISCAL YEAR, PROVIDE FOR THE MANDATORY ADOPTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT, AND PROVIDE THAT THE INITIATED ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION MAY NOT BE AMENDED OR REPEALED EXCEPT BY THE PETITION INITIATED PROCEDURE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article X of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 17. (A) The qualified electors of a county, municipality, special purpose district, or fiscally autonomous school district may propose ordinances, resolutions, or other appropriate legislative instruments by a petition signed by the qualified electors of the county, municipality, special purpose district, autonomous school district, or other political subdivisions on any subject not inconsistent with other provisions of this constitution.

(B) The initiated legislative instruments authorized in this section specifically include the authority to limit the total revenue which the county, municipality, special purpose district, fiscally autonomous school district, or other political subdivisions may expend during a fiscal year.

(C) An initiated legislative instrument must be adopted as it was submitted to the county, municipality, special purpose district, autonomous school district, or other political subdivisions adopted within thirty days of receiving it.

(D) No amendment or repeal of the legislative instrument is effective unless amended or repealed by another petition initiated legislative instrument."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Section 17, Article X of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to authorize the qualified electors of a county, municipality, special purpose district, fiscally autonomous school district, and any other political subdivisions to submit a legislative instrument by petition process, including one limiting the total revenue a county, municipality, special purpose district, fiscally autonomous school district, or any other political subdivisions may expend during a fiscal year, provide for the adoption of the legislative instrument and the method by which it may be amended or repealed?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."