February 18, 2010, Introduced by Reps. Knollenberg, Lund, Denby, Moss, Marleau, Haines, Opsommer and Walsh and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending section 31 of article IV and
section 18 of article V, to change the fiscal year, to require
three revenue estimating conferences, to require that certain state
budget bills be presented to the governor on or before a certain
date, to limit the budget, and to require certain deposits into
certain state funds.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, to change the fiscal year, to require three
revenue estimating conferences, to require that certain state
budget bills be presented to the governor on or before a certain
date, to limit the budget, and to require certain deposits into
certain state funds, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the
people of the state:
ARTICLE IV
Sec. 31. The general appropriation bills for the succeeding
fiscal period covering items set forth in the budget shall be
passed or rejected in either house of the legislature before that
house passes any appropriation bill for items not in the budget
except bills supplementing appropriations for the current fiscal
year's operation. Any bill requiring an appropriation to carry out
its purpose shall be considered an appropriation bill. One of the
general appropriation bills as passed by the legislature shall
contain an itemized statement of estimated revenue by major source
in each operating fund for the ensuing fiscal period, the total of
which shall not be less than the total of all appropriations made
from each fund in the general appropriation bills as passed. A
revenue estimating conference shall be held in the second week of
January, the last week of May, and the last week of September of
each year. The conference shall establish an official economic
forecast of major variables of the national and state economies and
establish a forecast of anticipated state revenues. For the 2010-
2011 fiscal year, the fiscal year of the state shall commence
October 1 and continue through June 30. For the 2011-2012 fiscal
year and for each fiscal year thereafter, the fiscal year of the
state shall commence July 1 and continue through June 30. Beginning
in 2013, the legislature shall present all general appropriation
bills for the succeeding two fiscal periods to the governor on or
before July 1 of each odd year. The legislature shall not pass
general appropriation bills that exceed the sum of 96% of the
estimated state revenue for the fiscal period, as determined by the
revenue estimating conference immediately preceding the passage of
those bills, plus revenue enhancements. If the actual revenue
received in the fiscal period exceeds 96% of the estimated state
revenue as determined by the revenue estimating conference
immediately preceding passage of those general appropriation bills,
the additional revenue not to exceed the difference between 96% of
the estimated state revenue and 100% of the estimated state revenue
shall be deposited in the countercyclical budget and economic
stabilization fund and may be appropriated by a concurrence of a
majority of the members elected to and serving in each house of the
legislature as provided by law. If the actual revenue received in
the fiscal period exceeds the estimated state revenue as determined
by the revenue estimating conference held immediately preceding
passage of those general appropriation bills, the additional
revenue shall be deposited in the countercyclical budget and
economic stabilization fund as provided by law. As used in this
section, "estimated state revenue" means the estimated amount of
general purpose general fund revenue and state school aid fund
revenue available for appropriation for the fiscal year. As used in
this section, "revenue enhancements" means additional state
revenues not contained in the governor's proposed budget that are
enacted into law or are received from the federal government or any
other source, in that fiscal year.
ARTICLE V
Sec. 18. The governor shall submit to the legislature at a
time fixed by law, a budget for the ensuing fiscal period setting
forth in detail, for all operating funds, the proposed expenditures
and estimated revenue of the state. Proposed expenditures from any
fund shall not exceed the estimated revenue thereof. On the same
date, the governor shall submit to the legislature general
appropriation bills to embody the proposed expenditures and any
necessary bill or bills to provide new or additional revenues to
meet proposed expenditures. The governor's proposed budget shall
not exceed the amount that may be passed in general appropriation
bills by the legislature under section 31 of article IV, excluding
revenue enhancements as provided under section 31 of article IV.
The amount of any surplus created or deficit incurred in any fund
during the last preceding fiscal period shall be entered as an item
in the budget and in one of the appropriation bills. The governor
may submit amendments to appropriation bills to be offered in
either house during consideration of the bill by that house, and
shall submit bills to meet deficiencies in current appropriations.
Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be
submitted to the people of the state at the next general election
in the manner provided by law.