The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-10-20
PROCLAMATION
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CON.
STITUTION OF MARYLAND GREAT
ING A BUDGET SYSTEM


WHEREAS, at the January Session Of
the General Assembly Of Maryland, held
W ne chapter i55 Of said Aets be1s
act to propose an amendment to Section
81 Of Article III, title. legislative De
State; and which said Act is In words ana
figures following:
CHAPTER 1853.
AN ACT to propose an amendment to Sec
ton 50 Of Article III, title, Legislative
Department, of the Constitution OF this
State, regulating the making of appropr1-
ations by the General Assembly Of Mary
land in regular session, and to provide
for the submission of said amendment
to the qualified voters of this state for
adoption or rejection.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly or Maryland (three- iftlS of all
the members of each of the two houses con
curring), That the following he and the
sa 9eo Is hereby proposed as an amendment
department, of the Constitution of this
State the same, if adopted by the legally
qualified voters Of the State, as herein pro-
the Constitution of Maryland.
Sec. 81. The General Assembly shall not
appropriate any money out Of the Treasury
except in accordance with the following
provisions:
Sub Section A:
Every appropriation bill shall be either
Budget Bill, or Supplementary ADpro-
priation Bill, as hereinafter mentioned.
Subsection B:
First. Within twenty days after the con-
vening of the General Assembly Except in
then within thirty days after his Inaugural
the General Assembly for the session at
which the Budget is to be submitted, the
Governor shall submit to the General AS
suing fiscal years. Each budget shall con.
tain a complete plan of proposed expendi-
lures and estimated revenues for the par
ticular fiscal year to which it relates; and
shall show the estimated surplus or deficit
of revenues at the end of such year. Ac-
companying each budget shall be state
ment showing: (1) the revenues and ex-
penditures for each of the two nscaI years
next preceding; (2) the current assets, liza
Dilitles, reserves and surplus or ueticit Of
the State; 81 the debts and funds OF the
State; a. an estimate of the States finan-
cial condition as of the beginning and end
of each of the fiscal years covered by the
two budgets above provided; (5l any eX-
PLANTATION the Governor may desire to make
as to the important features of any budget
and any suggestion as to methods for the
reduction or increase Of the States revc-
nue..
Second. Each budget shalk be divided into
two parts, and the first part shall be desig-
mated Governmental Appropriations" and
shall embrace an itemized estimate of the
appropriations: a. for the General AS
semely as certified to the Governor in the
manner hereinafter provided; (2) for the
Executive department, to) Ior tne JGulcl-
airy Department as provided 10y law, CERT
fed to the Governor by the Comptroller;
a. to pay and discharge the principal and
interest of the debt of the State of Mary
land in conformity with Section 81 of Ar
ticle III of the Constitution, and all laws
enacted in pursuance thereof; 90 for the
Constitution and laws Of the State; 81 for
he establishment and maintenance through
out the State Of a thorough and efficient
system Of public schools in conformity
wit ri M fhA Nnr Sfi fr1fin v,rI
with the laws of the State;- % for such
other purposes as are set forth in the
Constitution Of the State.
mated General Appropriations and shall
include all other estimates Of appropria-
tons.
The Governor shall deliver to the presid-
ing officer of each house the budgets and a
bill for all the proposed appropriations OF
the budgets clearly itemized and classified
shall promptly cause said bill to be intro
duced therein, and such bill shall be known
as the Budget Bill" The Governor may
al Assembly, amend or supplement either
of said budgets to correct an oversight OF
in case of an emergency, with the consent
of the General Assembly by delivering
such an amendment or supplement to the
presiding officers of both houses; and such
amendment or supplement shall thereby
become part of said budget bill as an ad
dition to the items of said bill or as q
modification of substitute for any item
OF said bill such amendment or supple
ment may affect.
| The General Assembly shall not amend
the budget bill so as to affect either the
obligations of the State under Section 81 OF
Article III of the Constitution, or the pro
visions made by the laws of the State fol
the establishment and maintenance Of i;
system Of public schools, or the payment
of any salaries required to be paid by the
thereof; and the General Assembly may
amend the bill by increasing or diminish
ing the items therein relating to the Gen
eral Assembly, and by increasing the items
therein relating to the judiciary, but ex
cept as Lereinbefore specified, may moi
alter the said bill except to strike out OF
reduce items therein, provided, however
that the salary or compensation of any
public officer shall not be decreased dur.
ing his term Of office; and such bill whe1
and as passed by both houses shall be
law Immediately without further action by
the Governor.
! Fourth. The Governor and such repre-
sentat1ves of the executive departments
boards, officers and commissions of the
States money, as have been designated by
the Governor for this purpose, shall have
the right and when requested by either
duty to appear and be heard with respect
to any budget bill during the consdera
ton thereof, and to answer inquiries re-
lative thereto.
ub-Section C: Supplementary Appropria
Neither house shall consider other appro
priations until the Budget Bill has been
finally acted upon by both houses, and nc
such other appropriated shall be. valid ex.
cept in accordance with the provisions fol
lowing: % Every sucn Appropriation
shall be embodied in separate Dill limit.
ed to some single work, object or purpose
m n1ey APPROPRIATION Bill; CAP Each Sup.
VIDE the revenue necessary to pay the mp.
preparation thereby made by tax, direct
or indirect, to be laid and collected as shall
be directed in said Bill; 81 NO Supple.
mentary Appropriation Bill shall become u
law unless 1t be passed in each house by
Of the members elected; and the yeas and
nays recorded ON it's final passage; (4)
Each Supplementary Appropriation Bill
shall be presented to the Governor of the
II of the Constitution and thereafter mil
the provisions of said Section shall apply.
Nothing in this amendment shall be con.
strued as preventing the Legislature FROM
passing at any time In accordance with the
provisions of Section 20 of Article III of
the Constitution and subject to the Cover.
Section IL Of Article III or the Constitution
an appropriation bill to provide for the
payment of any obligation or the State OF
Maryland within the proIecrYOn OF Section
~ Of Article L Of the Constitution OF the
United States.
dissection d: General Provisions:
First: II the Budget Bill shall NOT have
been finally acted upon by the Legislature
three days before the expiration Of it's reg
ular session, the Governor may, and II
shall be his duty to issue a proclamation
extending the session for such further
per1oQ as may, in his judgment, be neces-