SENATE BILL NO. 493

INTRODUCED BY L. GROSFIELD

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONTANA AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XIV, SECTION 9, OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE FROM 10 PERCENT TO 15 PERCENT THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS IN THE STATE REQUIRED TO PETITION TO PLACE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Article XIV, section 9, of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended to read:

"Section 9. Amendment by initiative. (1) The people may also propose constitutional amendments by initiative. Petitions including the full text of the proposed amendment shall be signed by at least fifteen percent of the qualified electors of the state. That number shall include at least fifteen percent of the qualified electors in each of two-fifths of the legislative districts.

(2) The petitions shall be filed with the secretary of state. If the petitions are found to have been signed by the required number of electors, the secretary of state shall cause the amendment to be published as provided by law twice each month for two months previous to the next regular state-wide election.

(3) At that election, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors for approval or rejection. If approved by a majority voting thereon, it shall become a part of the constitution effective the first day of July following its approval, unless the amendment provides otherwise."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Submission to electorate. The amendment set forth in section 1 shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana at the general election to be held in November 2000 by printing on the ballot the full title of this act and the following:

[]	FOR requiring at least 15% of qualified state electors to petition to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

[]	AGAINST requiring at least 15% of qualified state electors to petition to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

- END -