UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1307
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AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution of Kentucky 1
relating to slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. 2
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 3
Section 1. Are you in favor of amending Section 25 of the Constitution of 4
Kentucky to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances, including as 5
punishment for a crime, while preserving the ability of prisoners to work while 6
imprisoned, as stated below? 7
Section 2. It is proposed that Section 25 of the Constitution of Kentucky be 8
amended to read as follows: 9
Slavery and involuntary servitude in this State are forbidden[, except as a 10
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted]. Nothing in this 11
section shall be construed to prohibit a person convicted of a felony and sentenced to 12
imprisonment from being employed as described in Section 253 of this Constitution or 13
otherwise as may be provided by law. 14
Section 3. This amendment shall be submitted to the voters of the 15
Commonwealth for their ratification or rejection at the time and in the manner provided 16
for under Sections 256 and 257 of the Constitution, KRS 118.415, and Sections 4 and 5 17
of this Act. 18
Section 4. Notwithstanding any provision of in KRS 118.415 to the contrary, 19
the Secretary of State shall cause the entirety of the question in Section 1 of this Act and 20
the entirety of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky contained in 21
Section 2 of this Act to be published at least one time in a newspaper of general 22
circulation published in this state, and shall also cause to be published at the same time 23
and in the same manner the fact that the amendment will be submitted to the voters for 24
their acceptance or rejection at the next regular election at which members of the General 25
Assembly are to be voted for. The publication required by this section and KRS 118.415 26
shall be made no later than the first Tuesday in August preceding the election at which 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1307
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the amendment is to be voted on. 1
Section 5. Notwithstanding any provision of in KRS 118.415 to the contrary, 2
the Secretary of State, not later than the second Monday after the second Tuesday in 3
August preceding the next regular election at which members of the General Assembly 4
are to be chosen in a year in which there is not an election for President and Vice 5
President of the United States, or not later than the Thursday after the first Tuesday in 6
September preceding a regular election in a year in which there is an election for 7
President and Vice President of the United States, shall certify the entirety of the question 8
in Section 1 of this Act and the entirety of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of 9
Kentucky contained in Section 2 of this Act to the county clerk of each county, and the 10
county clerk shall have the entirety of the question and the amendment, as so certified, 11
indicated on the ballots provided to the voters in paper or electronic form as applicable to 12
the voting machines in use in each county or precinct. 13