S-1251               _______________________________________________

                                         SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 115

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Craswell, Zimmerman, Newhouse, McCaslin, Deccio, Lee, McDonald and Barr

Read first time 2/6/85 and referred to Committee on Ways and Means.

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 there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VIII of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

Article VIII, section ___.  After June 30, 1987, the legislature shall make no appropriation that has the effect of increasing state expenditures at a rate greater than the lesser of the growth of personal income or cost of living (as measured by the gross national product deflator) plus population growth.  The legislature may by law provide reasonable methods for determining the rate of increase in the personal income of the people of the state and the rate of increase in state expenditures.  Appropriations for projects and programs approved by the voters, for direct legislative contributions to state-administered public employee retirement systems, for repayment of borrowings, and for purposes specified in a gift or grant from a nongovernmental person or entity (but not for an amount greater than the amount of the gift or grant) are not subject to the limitation.  To the extent subject to legislative appropriations, appropriation of funds collected for another governmental entity, of funds dedicated to specific uses by the Constitution, or of earnings on or return of principal from investments are not subject to the limitation.  The limitation for any fiscal year may be exceeded upon declaration of emergency by two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature.  The electors of the state may by majority vote establish a new limitation, effective for one or more fiscal years, in an election in which at least fifty percent of the electors of the state have voted.

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.