Couple of potential constitutional amendments -- Updated
Former Rep. Charles Ormond received notice today that the attorney general certified his proposal to amend the state constitution to create a gambling commission to regulate casinos and a state lottery (and also name him as the director of the agency). The proposal also allows gambling to become legal in Arkansas. He'll need 78,000 signatures to get it on the ballot. Here's the Associated Press story by Andrew DeMillo.
Next, Jerry Cox tells the Associated Press that the Arkansas Family Council is working on a draft for a ban on gay foster parents in Arkansas. The group hasn't decided whether it wants to put it on the ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment (78,000 signatures required) or as an initiated act (62,000 signatures required). Cox says the proposal would be similar to the ban defeated during this year's legislative session, which also included adoption.
There can be no special election for initiated measures (see Amendment 7 and Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-104). The election must be held during a regular general election at which state and county officers are elected for regular terms. Prior to appearing on the ballot, an initiated act requires signatures equal to 8% of the ballots cast in the previous governor's election, and if approved, the measure will be codified in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-120, which states in part as follows:
Update (Saturday morning): Add a term limits proposal to the group.
Next, Jerry Cox tells the Associated Press that the Arkansas Family Council is working on a draft for a ban on gay foster parents in Arkansas. The group hasn't decided whether it wants to put it on the ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment (78,000 signatures required) or as an initiated act (62,000 signatures required). Cox says the proposal would be similar to the ban defeated during this year's legislative session, which also included adoption.
There can be no special election for initiated measures (see Amendment 7 and Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-104). The election must be held during a regular general election at which state and county officers are elected for regular terms. Prior to appearing on the ballot, an initiated act requires signatures equal to 8% of the ballots cast in the previous governor's election, and if approved, the measure will be codified in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 7-9-120, which states in part as follows:
The Secretary of State shall cause every measure approved by the people to be printed with the general laws enacted by the next ensuing session of the General Assembly with the date of the Governor's proclamation declaring the same to have been approved by the people.A constitutional amendment requires signatures equal to 10% of the ballots cast in the previous governor's election prior to appearing on the ballot, and if approved, the measure will be added to the Arkansas Consitution and is therefore much more protected than an initiated act.
Update (Saturday morning): Add a term limits proposal to the group.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 5/11/2007 07:31:00 PM | Permalink |
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