07 LC 18
6155S
The
Senate Finance Committee offered the following substitute to SR 21:
A
RESOLUTION
Proposing
an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that no law providing for a
net increase in state purpose taxes shall become effective unless approved by a
two-thirds´ majority of each branch of the General Assembly; to provide
for an exception; to provide for the submission of this amendment for
ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
VII, Section I, Paragraph I of the Constitution is amended by revising
Paragraph I as follows:
"Paragraph
I.
Taxation;
limitations on grants of tax powers.
(a)
The state may not suspend or irrevocably give, grant, limit, or restrain the
right of taxation and all laws, grants, contracts, and other acts to effect any
of these purposes are null and void. Except as otherwise provided in this
Constitution, the right of taxation shall always be under the complete control
of the state.
(b)
No law providing for a net increase in state purpose taxes shall take effect
unless and until approved by two-thirds of the members of each branch of the
General Assembly in a roll-call vote. Prior to the beginning of each fiscal
year of the state, the General Assembly shall appropriate revenues to pay
interest on its debt to which it has pledged its faith and credit and which
interest is payable in the year for which such appropriation is made and to pay
the principal of such debt, payable in such year, whether at maturity or
otherwise. To the extent that insufficient revenues are provided to pay the
principal and interest on such debt when due and payable, the first moneys
thereafter received by the state shall be set aside and applied to the payment
of the principal and interest on such debt. To make up for such insufficient
revenues, the General Assembly may increase the rate of taxes and fees without
regard to the limitations of this subparagraph after the failure to pay when due
the principal of and interest on such
debt."
SECTION
2.
The
above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as
provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot
submitting the above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon
the following:
|
"( ) YES
( ) NO
|
Shall
the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that no law providing
for a net increase in state purpose taxes shall take effect unless and until
approved by a two-thirds´ majority of each branch of the General
Assembly?"
|
All
persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote
"Yes." All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment
shall vote "No." If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said
Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of
this state.