(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
Section 20 of article X of the state constitution, which was approved by the registeredelectors of this state at the 1992 general election, limits fiscal year spending of the state government;
It is within the legislative prerogative of the general assembly to enact legislationwhich will facilitate the operation of section 20 of article X;
It is a legislative prerogative to facilitate compliance with the state fiscal year spending limit and legislation to implement section 20 of article X as it relates to state government is a reasonable and necessary exercise of the legislative prerogative;
In interpreting the provisions of section 20 of article X, the general assembly hasattempted to give the words of said constitutional provision their natural and obvious significance;
Where the meaning of section 20 of article X is uncertain, the general assembly hasattempted to ascertain the intent of those who adopted the measure and, when appropriate, the intent of the proponents, as well as to apply other generally accepted rules of construction;
The content of this article represents the considered judgment of the general assemblyas to the meaning of the provisions of section 20 of article X as it relates to state government.
(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that:
The adoption of section 20 of article X imposes a limit on state fiscal year spendingand the provisions of this article were enacted to facilitate compliance with the state fiscal year spending limit;
This article reflects the judgment of the general assembly regarding the meaning andimplementation of section 20 of article X of the state constitution as it relates to state government;
The provisions of this article should not be construed to substitute for generally accepted accounting principles which are applicable to financial documents and reports of state government;
The purpose of preparing figures in accordance with this article, to ensure compliance with the state fiscal year spending limit, may differ from the purpose of preparing financial statements of the state, to determine the financial condition of the state;
The financial statements of the state prepared by the state controller shall be prepared, insofar as possible, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; and
The financial report required by this article shall be prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles unless otherwise provided by law or unless an irreconcilable conflict exists between generally accepted accounting principles and the provisions of section 20 of article X in which case the provisions of said constitutional provision shall control.
(3) The general assembly further finds and declares that:
When revenues exceed the state fiscal year spending limitation for any given fiscalyear, section 20 (7)(d) of article X of the state constitution requires that the excess revenues be refunded in the next fiscal year unless voters approve a revenue change allowing the state to retain the revenues;
It is the duty and intent of the general assembly to comply with the constitutionalrequirement to refund state excess revenues;
It is within the legislative prerogative to facilitate compliance with the constitutionalrequirement to refund state excess revenues and legislation relating to the refunding of such excess revenues is a reasonable and necessary exercise of the legislative prerogative; and
State excess revenues that are carried forward from the fiscal year in which theyaccrued shall be refunded in the next fiscal year and shall not be available for any other governmental purpose unless voters have authorized the state to retain such revenues.
Source: L. 93: Entire article added, p. 1495, § 1, effective June 6. L. 94: (2) added, p. 1089, § 1, effective May 4. L. 98: (2) amended and (3) added, p. 847, § 1, effective May 26.