South Dakota Cement-Plant Trust Amendment, Constitutional Amendment O (2012)

Constitutional Amendment O
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Type:	legislatively-referred constitutional amendment
Constitution:	South Dakota Constitution
Referred by:	South Dakota Legislature
Topic:	State budgets
Status:	a

The South Dakota Cement-Plant Amendment, also known as Constitutional Amendment O, was on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of South Dakota as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved. The measure changed how much money taken from the state’s cement-plant trust fund each year. According to reports, the measure was sponsored by state representative Paul Dennert. The measure was introduced during 2012 state legislative session.

Election results

See also: 2012 ballot measure election results

The following are official election results:

South Dakota Amendment O
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		186,956	56.76%
No		142,410	43.24%

Official results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

Text of measure

The official ballot text read as follows:

Title: An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution changing the method for distributions from the cement plant trust fund.

Explanation: In 2001, the $238 million in proceeds from the sale of the state cement plant were placed in a constitutionally created trust fund. Currently, the Constitution requires a yearly transfer of $12 million from the cement plant trust fund to the state general fund. In addition, under certain circumstances the Legislature must authorize distributions of cement plant trust fund earnings for the support of education.
Amendment O replaces the existing method for cement trust fund distributions. The amendment would require a yearly transfer of 4% of the market value of the cement plant trust fund to the state general fund for the support of education.

A vote “Yes” is for changing the method for distributions from the cement plant trust fund.
A vote “No” will leave the Constitution as it is.

Support

No formal support was identified.

Opposition

No formal opposition was identified.

Path to the ballot

Section 1 of Article XXIII of the South Dakota Constitution says that the South Dakota State Legislature can refer a proposed amendment to the state's voters through a majority vote.

The South Dakota House of Representatives voted in favor of the measure on February 13, 2012, with a vote of 64-3. According to reports, the measure was sent to the ballot after legislature passed it by the end of 2012 session.

See also

• 2012 ballot measures
• South Dakota 2012 ballot measures

External links

• South Dakota Secretary of state ballot question voter guide