State engagement in transmission lines & energy facilities.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF
WYOMING
07LSO-0167

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
HJ0002

State engagement in transmission lines & energy facilities.

Sponsored by:
Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee

A BILL

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution to authorize the state to engage in works of internal improvement for transmission lines and related facilities, including the purchase of transmission line capacity and to participate in works relating to advanced coal and new technology energy projects including all facilities, structures and properties incidental or useful in the production, transportation and transmission of energy, without submitting the question of the state's authority to engage in such works to a vote of the people.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:

Section 1.

The following proposal to create Wyoming
Constitution,
Article 16, Section 14
is proposed
for submission to the electors of the State of
Wyoming
at the next general election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:

Article 16, Section 14.

Construction and improvement of transmission lines and related facilities.

The provisions of section 6 of article 16 of this constitution prohibiting the state from engaging in any work of internal improvement unless authorized by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the people shall not apply to or affect the construction or improvement of transmission lines and related facilities, the construction, improvement, financing and ownership of facilities that are inside the state of Wyoming and may extend into other states, including the purchase of capacity in such transmission lines, and participation in clean
coal and new technology energy projects including all facilities, structures and properties incidental or useful in the production and transmission of energy,
as may be designated by the
l
egislature. The
l
egislature shall have power to provide for the construction, improvement, financing and ownership of such transmission lines and related transmission facilities, to purchase capacity in such transmission lines and to participate in clean coal and new technology energy projects, in whole or in part by the state, either directly or by extending aid to its political subdivisions or to any public corporation legally organized for such purposes.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:

Generally the Wyoming Constitution pursuant to Article 16, Section 6 prohibits the state from engaging in works of internal improvement without submitting the question of engaging in those activities to a vote and those activities being authorized by a 2/3 vote of the people. Pursuant to previous constitutional amendments, the state has been authorized to engage in works of internal improvements for public roads and highways, for conservation and utilization of water and for certain airport improvements, without submitting the issue to a vote. The passage of this amendment will give the legislature of the
s
tate of
Wyoming
, without submitting the issue to a vote, the power to purchase capacity in transmission lines, engage directly in, or by financing, construction, and improvement of transmission lines and their related facilities that are inside the state of
Wyoming
and may extend into other states. The legislature would also have the power to participate in clean coal and new technology energy projects without submitting the issue to a vote.

(END)

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HJ0002