Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0837
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: SHAW, CRAFTS, SHORT

Legislative Document 
No. 837 
H.P. 571 
House of Representatives, March 10, 2015 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Limit the Application of a Citizen Initiative Concerning 
Wildlife Matters to Counties in Which It Is Approved 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative SHAW of Standish. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CRAFTS of Lisbon, SHORT of Pittsfield. 
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; measure 
concerning wildlife matters; 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.  A measure concerning wildlife 
matters that is approved by vote of the people applies only in counties in which a majority 
of the votes in those counties approved the measure.  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. 
; 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 a 
citizen initiative concerning wildlife matters that is approved by vote of 
the people applies only in counties in which a majority of the votes in 
those counties approved the initiative?" 
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 a citizen 
initiative concerning wildlife matters that is approved by vote of the people applies only 
in counties in which a majority of the votes in those counties approved the initiative.