Voters to Decide on Two Constitutional Amendments

by Senator Sam Slom, Senate Minority Blog, August 29, 2012

Hawaii voters will have to decide on two amendments to the State Constitution in the general election on November 6. Both constitutional amendment questions were passed by the State Legislature this year. I voted in favor of both during the session.

The two Constitutional Amendment questions address the following sections and issues:

Article VII, Section 12 — Assistance to Dam and Reservoir Owners (HB 2594 CD1)

“Shall the State be authorized to issue special purpose revenue bonds and use the proceeds from the bonds to assist dam and reservoir owners to make their facilities compliant with current safety standards?”

Article VI, Section 3 — Appointment of Retired Judges to Serve as Emeritus Judges (SB 650 HD1)

“Shall the chief justice of the state supreme court appoint judges who have retired upon attaining the age of seventy years as emeritus judges, permitting the appointed judges to serve as temporary judges in courts no higher than the court level they reached prior to retirement and for terms not to exceed three months per each appointment?”

Those who want to study these questions further can find the complete text to these two Con-Am bills and their committee reports at the State Legislature’s website:

http:/www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Direct links to the bills are provided in the text above.