Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0097
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: CELLI, LONG, SANDERSON

Legislative Document 
No. 97 
H.P. 83 
House of Representatives, January 18, 2011 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Prohibit Certain Changes to a Direct Initiative of 
Legislation for a Period of Time after It Is Approved by the Voters 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative CELLI of Brewer. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: LONG of Sherman, SANDERSON of Chelsea. 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved:  Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §19 is amended to read: 
Section 19.  Effective date of measures approved by people; veto power 
limited.  Any measure referred to the people and approved by a majority of the votes 
given thereon shall, unless a later date is specified in said measure, take effect and 
become a law in 30 days after the Governor has made public proclamation of the result of 
the vote on said measure, which the Governor shall do within 10 days after the vote 
thereon has been canvassed and determined; provided, however, that any such measure 
which entails expenditure in an amount in excess of available and unappropriated state 
funds shall remain inoperative until 45 days after the next convening of the Legislature in 
regular session, unless the measure provides for raising new revenues adequate for its 
operation.  The veto power of the Governor shall not extend to any measure approved by 
vote of the people, and any measure initiated by the people and passed by the Legislature 
without change, if vetoed by the Governor and if the veto is sustained by the Legislature 
shall be referred to the people to be voted on at the next general election.  The Legislature 
may enact measures expressly conditioned upon the people's ratification by a referendum 
vote.  The Legislature may not make a change to a measure approved by vote of the 
people for 8 years after that measure takes effect if that change is contrary to the general 
intent of that measure. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. 
Resolved:  That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their 
respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for 
holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November 
following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that the Legislature 
may not make a change to a measure initiated and approved by vote of the people for 
years after that measure takes effect if that change is contrary to the general intent 
of that measure?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding 
square below the word "Yes" or "No."  The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature.  The Governor shall 
review the returns.  If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the 
amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment 
becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it 
further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State 
shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies 
of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that the 
Legislature may not make a change to a measure initiated and approved by vote of the 
people for 8 years after that measure takes effect if that change is contrary to the general 
intent of that measure.