S-3844.2
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8212
State of Washington
64th Legislature
2016 Regular Session
By Senators Ericksen, Benton, Padden, Sheldon, Rivers, Miloscia, and Angel
Read first time 01/21/16. Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Security.
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 II of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:
Article II, section . . . (1) Any action or combination of actions by the legislature that raises taxes may be taken only if approved by at least a two-thirds vote of both the house of representatives and the senate. Pursuant to the referendum power set forth in Article II, section 1(b) of this Constitution, tax increases may be referred to the voters for their approval or rejection at an election.
(2) A fee may only be imposed or increased in any fiscal year if it is legislatively approved with at least a simple majority vote in both the house of representatives and the senate. Legislative approval cannot occur in an omnibus appropriations act.
(3) Any action or combination of actions by the legislature that raises taxes, which meets the requirements of this section, is not required to be submitted to the people for an advisory vote.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "raises taxes" means any action or combination of actions by the state legislature that increases state tax revenue deposited in any fund, budget, or account, regardless of whether the revenues are deposited into the general fund.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.
--- END ---