HJR 1: USE OF INITIATIVE TO AMEND CONSTITUTION Number 407 CHAIRMAN VEZEY read the title of HJR 1. He invited comments or questions from the committee and then from public agencies. Number 429 REPRESENTATIVE GAIL PHILLIPS, sponsor of HJR 1, spoke of the need for the legislation. (A summary of her testimony has been included in the committee bill file.) Rep. Phillips requested that HJR 1 be held until the fiscal note was available. Number 458 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked if HJR 1 would change statutes also. Number 460 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS replied that it would amend the constitution only and not statutes. Number 466 REPRESENTATIVE SANDERS asked if it would require two-thirds of the registered voters who vote. Number 470 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS stated that the constitutional convention question was asked at the last election and the response was not to have one. He asked why this was different. Number 476 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS responded that the question was to not open up the total constitution, yet the people wanted changes, such as term limits. She said it takes a major effort and a drive was difficult to put an initiative on the ballot. Number 492 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS asked if debate should be a concern in the initiative process. Number 501 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS responded that the more the debate the better. Number 505 REPRESENTATIVE SANDERS shared a concern about the newspaper's power of persuasion. Number 509 REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS said that it would be a responsibility of the legislature to make sure that they get their side out as well. Number 518 REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS asked for clarification of Representative Martin's bills, HJR 8 and HJR 1. Number 539 CHAIRMAN VEZEY stated that public hearings for HJR 1 would be done this month through teleconference.