00                CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4(STA)                                                               
01 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska prohibiting the                                         
02 establishment of, or increase to, a state tax without the approval of the voters of the                                 
03 state; and relating to the initiative process.                                                                          
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
05    * Section 1. Article IX, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                        
06            Section 1. Taxing Power. (a) The power of taxation shall never be                                        
07       surrendered. This power shall not be suspended or contracted away, except as                                      
08       provided in this article.                                                                                         
09    * Sec. 2. Article IX, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended by adding new                        
10 subsections to read:                                                                                                    
11 (b)  Notwithstanding Section 18 of Article II, a law enacted under Sections 14 -                                        
12 17 of Article II that establishes a state tax or increases the rate of an existing state tax                            
13 shall not take effect unless it is approved by the voters of the State in the first                                     
14 statewide election held more than one hundred twenty days after the enactment of the                                    
15 law. The lieutenant governor shall prepare a ballot title and proposition summarizing                                   

01 the law, and shall place them on the ballot. If a majority of the votes cast on the                                     
02 proposition favor its adoption, the law becomes effective on the later of ninety days                                   
03 after the lieutenant governor certifies the election returns or an effective date provided                              
04 for by concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of each house. If a majority of the                                  
05 votes cast on the proposition favor its rejection, the law is rejected and does not take                                
06       effect.                                                                                                           
07 (c)  A law enacted by the voters through the initiative process under Article XI                                        
08 that establishes a state tax or increases the rate of an existing state tax shall not take                              
09 effect unless the legislature, by resolution, approves the initiated law by a majority                                  
10 vote in joint session before the adjournment of the next regular session occurring after                                
11 the lieutenant governor certifies the election returns. If approved by the legislature, the                             
12 initiated law becomes effective ninety days after approval. If the legislature fails to                                 
13 approve the initiated law before the adjournment of the regular session, the initiated                                  
14       law is rejected and does not take effect.                                                                         
15    * Sec. 3. Article XI, sec. 6, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                             
16 Section 6. Enactment. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition favor                                        
17 its adoption, the initiated measure is enacted. If a majority of the votes cast on the                                  
18 proposition favor the rejection of an act referred, it is rejected. The lieutenant governor                             
19 shall certify the election returns. Except as provided in Section 1 of Article IX, an                               
20 [AN] initiated law becomes effective ninety days after certification, is not subject to                                 
21 veto, and may not be repealed by the legislature within two years of its effective date.                                
22 It may be amended at any time. An act rejected by referendum is void thirty days after                                  
23 certification. Additional procedures for the initiative and referendum may be                                           
24       prescribed by law.                                                                                              
25    * Sec. 4. The amendments proposed by this resolution shall be placed before the voters of                          
26 the state at the next general election in conformity with art. XIII, sec. 1, Constitution of the                        
27 State of Alaska, and the election laws of the state.