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SJR 4: Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska prohibiting the establishment of, or increase to, a state tax without the approval of the voters of the state; and relating to the initiative process.

00 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4 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 by adding 06 new subsections to read: 07 (b) Any law enacted under Sections 14 - 18 of Article II establishing a state tax 08 or increasing the rate of an existing state tax shall not take effect unless approved by 09 the voters of the State in the next statewide election held more than one hundred 10 twenty days from enactment of the proposed law. The lieutenant governor shall 11 prepare a ballot title and proposition summarizing the proposed law, and shall place it 12 on the ballot. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition favor its adoption, it 13 becomes effective ninety days after the certification of the election returns by the 14 lieutenant governor. If a majority of votes cast on the proposition favor its rejection, 15 the proposed law is rejected and does not take effect.

01 (c) Any law enacted by the voters through the initiative process under Article 02 XI establishing a state tax or increasing the rate of an existing state tax shall not take 03 effect unless the legislature, by resolution, approves the initiated law by a majority 04 vote in joint session by adjournment of the next regular session occurring after the 05 lieutenant governor certifies the election returns. If approved by the legislature, the 06 initiated law becomes effective ninety days after approval. If the legislature fails to 07 approve the initiated law by adjournment of the regular session, the initiated law is 08 rejected and does not take effect. 09 * Sec. 2. Article XI, sec. 6, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read: 10 Section 6. Enactment. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition favor 11 its adoption, the initiated measure is enacted. If a majority of the votes cast on the 12 proposition favor the rejection of an act referred, it is rejected. The lieutenant 13 governor shall certify the election returns. Except as provided in Section 1 of Article 14 IX, an [AN] initiated law becomes effective ninety days after certification, is not 15 subject to veto, and may not be repealed by the legislature within two years of its 16 effective date. It may be amended at any time. An act rejected by referendum is void 17 thirty days after certification. Additional procedures for the initiative and referendum 18 may be prescribed by law. 19 * Sec. 3. The amendments proposed by this resolution shall be placed before the voters of 20 the state at the next general election in conformity with art. XIII, sec. 1, Constitution of the 21 State of Alaska, and the election laws of the state.