Constitution Section 204 — Appropriation Bills

Part VI — THE STATES — Procedure in Financial Matters

Constitutional

Summary

After the state assembly approves grants for spending, a bill must be introduced to formally take that money from the state's main bank account, the Consolidated Fund. This bill covers both the approved grants and any other mandatory expenses listed in the budget statement. No one can propose changes to this bill that would increase, decrease, or redirect the approved amounts, and the chairperson's decision on whether a proposed change is allowed is final. Money can only be taken out of the state's Consolidated Fund if it is authorized by a law passed exactly as described in this section.

Official Text

(1) As soon as may be after the grants under article 203 have been made by the Assembly, there shall be introduced a Bill to provide for the appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of all moneys required to meet—

(a) the grants so made by the Assembly; and

(b) the expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State but not exceeding in any case the amount shown in the statement previously laid before the House or Houses.

(2) No amendment shall be proposed to any such Bill in the House or either House of the Legislature of the State which will have the effect of varying the amount or altering the destination of any grant so made or of varying the amount of any expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State, and the decision of the person presiding as to whether an amendment is inadmissible under this clause shall be final.

(3) Subject to the provisions of articles 205 and 206, no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of the State except under appropriation made by law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article.