SB502 By Senators Dial, Sanford, Albritton, Bussman, Marsh, McClendon, Williams, Holley and Melson RFD Finance and Taxation General Fund Rd 1 21-MAY-15

SYNOPSIS: Under current law there exist a number of statutory and constitutional earmarks for the spending of state revenues.

This proposed amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to become effective January 1, 2017, would eliminate all requirements that limit the appropriation or spending of state revenues in a particular manner contained in the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 and prohibit any general or local law that directs state revenue to be appropriated or spent in a particular manner. The proposed amendment would further allow for a unified appropriations bill.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to become effective January 1, 2017, that would eliminate all requirements that limit the appropriation or spending of state revenues in a particular manner contained in the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 and prohibit any general or local law that directs state revenue to be appropriated or spent in a particular manner. The proposed amendment would further allow for a unified appropriations bill.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, is proposed and shall become valid as part thereof, effective January 1, 2017, following approval by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon in accordance with Sections 284, 285, and 287 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

On and after the effective date of this provision, no limitation on the appropriation or spending of state revenues contained in the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, shall be effective nor shall any general or local act in existence on the effective date of this provision or thereafter direct that any state revenue be appropriated or spent in a particular manner. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, following the ratification of this provision, all appropriations for the ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state, for interest on the public debt and for public education may be made in the general appropriations bill.

Section 2. The appropriate election official shall assign a ballot number for the proposed constitutional amendment on the election ballot and shall set the following description of the substance or subject matter of the proposed constitutional amendment:

"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to become effective January 1, 2017, to disallow any limitation on the appropriation or spending of state revenues and to allow for a unified appropriations bill.

"Proposed by Act _________"

This description shall be followed by the following language: