RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the last time a constitutional convention question was placed on the ballot was in the general election of 1998, pursuant to Act 131, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, which was not approved by the voters in the general election of 1998; and

WHEREAS, Article XVII, section 2, of the Hawaii State Constitution provides that the Legislature may submit to the electorate at any general or special election the question of whether there shall be a constitutional convention to propose a revision of or amendments to the constitution; and

WHEREAS, Article XVII, section 2, of the Hawaii State Constitution further provide that if any nine year period elapses without the question having been submitted, the lieutenant governor must certify that question, to be voted on in the first general election following the expiration of that period; and

WHEREAS, the next constitutional convention could be held in 2007 if the question is submitted to the voters on the ballot for the next general election in 2006; and

WHEREAS, a thorough and objective review of the Hawaii State Constitution and the potential benefit or need for a constitutional amendment should be conducted; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study to determine whether or not a constitutional convention should be convened in 2007 following a vote on the question by the electorate in the 2006 general election; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to review the Hawaii State Constitution, identify any issues that may need to be resolved by constitutional amendment, discuss the pros and cons of each issue, and analyze the need and potential benefit of holding another constitutional convention in 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report its findings, recommendations, and conclusions to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Report Title:

Constitutional Convention; LRB Study