Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §905-A is enacted to read:

§905-A.__Review of referendum questions proposed in

legislation

The Secretary of State shall review all referendum questions proposed in legislation, including bond issues under the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, amendments to the Constitution of Maine under Article X, Section 4 and referendum questions required by a referendum clause, for clarity, intent, argument and the introduction of bias.__The Secretary of State may maintain a ballot clarity board for the review of referendum questions.__The Secretary of State shall issue a written decision on a referendum question to the legislative committee or committees of jurisdiction stating the reasons for the decision within 7 business days of receiving the question from the Legislature.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that all referendum questions proposed by the Legislature, including bond issues, constitutional resolutions and referendum questions required by a referendum clause, be reviewed by the Secretary of State. This review may be conducted through a ballot clarity board created by the Secretary of State.