HB255INTRODUCED
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OZ21JJ-1
By Representative Clouse (Constitutional Amendment)
RFD: Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
First Read: 04-Apr-23
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5 OZ21JJ-1 03/14/2023 PMG (L)tgw 2023-66
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SYNOPSIS:
Under existing constitutional law, local laws
must be advertised for four consecutive weeks prior to
introduction in the Legislature.
This bill would propose an amendment to the
Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to require local
constitutional amendments to be advertised via
publication on the website of the affected community
for four consecutive weeks prior to introduction.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama
of 2022, to add Section 284.02, to require local
constitutional amendments to be advertised prior to
introduction.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution
of Alabama of 2022, is proposed and shall become valid as a
part of the Constitution when approved by a majority of the
qualified electors voting thereon and in accordance with
Sections 284, 285, and 287 of the Constitution of Alabama of
2022:
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PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Section 284.02 is added to the Constitution of Alabama
of 2022 to read as follows:
Section 284.02
No local constitutional amendment shall be passed
unless the substance of the proposed constitutional amendment
is prominently published on the website of the county or
political subdivision affected by the constitutional amendment
for a period of not less than four consecutive weeks prior to
the introduction of the constitutional amendment. Proof of
notice shall be provided to the Clerk of the House or
Secretary of the Senate at the time the constitutional
amendment is introduced.
Upon ratification of this constitutional amendment, the
Code Commissioner shall number and place this amendment as
appropriate in the constitution omitting this instructional
paragraph and may make the following nonsubstantive revisions:
change capitalization, spelling, and punctuation for purposes
of style and uniformity; correct manifest grammatical,
clerical, and typographical errors; and correct incorrect
cross-references.
Section 2. An election upon the proposed amendment
shall be held in accordance with Sections 284 and 285 of the
Constitution of Alabama of 2022, and the election laws of this
state.
Section 3. The appropriate election official shall
assign a ballot number for the proposed constitutional
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amendment on the election ballot and shall set forth the
following description of the substance or subject matter of
the proposed constitutional amendment:
"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama
of 2022, to require every local constitutional amendment to be
published on the website of the affected county or political
subdivision for a period of four weeks prior to introduction
of the local constitutional amendment by the Legislature.
Proposed by Act ____. "
This description shall be followed by the following
language:
"Yes ( ) No( )."
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