8222 AMS ZARE MOOR 317

SJR 8222 - S AMD 126

By Senators Zarelli, Kastama, Haugen, Tom, Murray

ADOPTED 02/13/2012

    Beginning on page 1, line 1, strike all material through "state." on page 2, line 17 and insert the following:

    "BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

    THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VII of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

    Article VII, section . . ..  (1) For the 2014 fiscal year or any subsequent fiscal year, the legislature may not present to the governor for consideration, nor may the governor sign into law, an appropriations bill that would appropriate from the general fund for that fiscal year a total amount that, when combined with all appropriations from the general fund for that fiscal year made as of the date of the appropriation bill's passage and the amount of any general fund moneys to be transferred to the budget stabilization account pursuant to Article VII, section 12 of this Constitution, exceeds the prior fund balance and any general fund revenues for that fiscal year as estimated by the economic and revenue forecast council or successor entity as of the date of the budget bill's passage.

    (2) For the 2014 fiscal year or any subsequent fiscal year, the legislature may not present to the governor for consideration, nor may the governor sign into law, an appropriations bill that would require for any of the subsequent three fiscal years general fund appropriations necessary to maintain estimated program and service levels either funded in that appropriations bill or mandated by other state law, of a total amount that, when combined with all projected appropriations from the general fund for that fiscal year and the amount of any general fund moneys projected to be transferred to the budget stabilization account pursuant to Article VII, section 12 of this Constitution, exceeds prior fund balances and general fund revenues for that fiscal year as estimated by the economic and revenue forecast council or successor entity as of the date of the budget bill's passage.

    (3) The requirements of subsection (2) of this section do not apply in a fiscal year in which money is withdrawn and appropriated from the budget stabilization account.

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of the foregoing constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state."

EFFECT: Shortens from six to four years the balanced budget requirement.  Clarifies that subsequent fiscal year analysis must include other expenditures mandated by state law.  Provides an exception from the four year balanced budget requirement for years in which funds are appropriated from the budget stabilization account.  

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