2 GCA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CH. 12 VOTER INTRODUCTION PROGRAM CHAPTER 12 VOTER INTRODUCTION PROGRAM SOURCE: This entire Chapter, unless otherwise noted, was added by P.L. 24-164 (04/09/1998)

Short Title. Purpose. § 12101

§ 12102

§ 12103. Voters May Introduce Bills. Bills Must Be in Proper Form

§ 12104

Public Hearing. § 12105

Committee Amendments to VIP Bills

§ 12106

Petition

§ 12107

§ 12101. Short Title. The program established is called the Voter Introduction Program, or alternatively the ‘VIP.’ § 12102. Purpose. The purpose of this Program established in this Chapter is to allow the voters of Guam to introduce bills directly into the Guam Legislature to ensure that the Legislature deals with issues considered of importance to significant portions of Guam’s electorate. As this is the intent, this Chapter is to be interpreted liberally and in a manner that promotes the purpose of allowing voters greater access to the creation of law

§ 12103. Voters May Introduce Bills. A person registered to vote in Guam, or a group of such persons (sponsoring voter or voters), may introduce bills into the Guam Legislature in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Chapter. Such a bill is known as a ‘VIP Bill.’ A proposed VIP Bill shall be presented to the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, (Chairperson), by the sponsoring voter, or voters, of the Bill

§ 12104. Bills Must Be in Proper Form

Any VIP Bill introduced in the Guam Legislature under the provisions of this Chapter must be in the same form as detailed in the laws of Guam and the Standing Rules of the Guam Legislature prevailing at the time of introduction. A VIP Bill shall be introduced by the Chairperson at the COL120106 1 2 GCA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CH. 12 VOTER INTRODUCTION PROGRAM request of the sponsoring voter, or voters. Should the Chairperson determine the VIP Bill not to be in proper form at the time of submission, the Chairperson shall return the VIP Bill to the sponsoring voter, or voters, with a detailed description of what is necessary to correct the form of the VIP Bill and make it acceptable for introduction, except that the Chairperson shall not reject a VIP Bill as submitted by the sponsoring voter, or voters, on the basis of content, nor shall the Chairperson edit the content of any VIP Bill after it has been accepted for submission. The Chairperson must refer the VIP Bill to a standing committee of the Guam Legislature for public hearing within fifteen (15) days of its receipt

§ 12105. Public Hearing. The standing committee of the Guam Legislature to which a VIP Bill has been referred shall hold a public hearing on the VIP Bill no later than forty-five (45) days after the date of referral to that standing committee. Should the standing committee fail to hold a public hearing on the VIP bill by the deadline designated herein, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules shall assume oversight responsibility for the VIP Bill and hold a public hearing on the VIP Bill within thirty (30) days. If after thirty (30) days, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules fails to hold a public hearing on the VIP Bill, it shall be placed, without hearing, on the second reading file of the Legislative agenda for the next Legislative day, notwithstanding any other provision of law

§ 12106. Committee Amendments to VIP Bills

Subsequent to a public hearing, the standing committee of the Guam Legislature exercising oversight over the VIP bill at the time of the hearing may make amendments to the VIP Bill, except that the sponsoring voter shall be fully notified of such amendments and must agree in writing to such amendments. A VIP Bill which has received a public hearing must be placed in the second reading file of the Legislative agenda for no later than the second legislative day after the public hearing. After a VIP bill has been placed in the second reading file, it shall be treated as any other bill before the Guam Legislature

§ 12107. Petition. The sponsoring voter, or voters, shall attach to the VIP Bill when presented to the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules for purpose of introduction a petition of support for the proposed VIP Bill signed by duly COL120106 2 2 GCA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH CH. 12 VOTER INTRODUCTION PROGRAM registered voters in Guam numbering no less than five percent (5%) of the total number of voters who voted for the office of Governor in the previous gubernatorial general election. A proposed bill shall not be considered a VIP Bill unless this petition is attached with the required number of valid signatures

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