3211
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

REPRODUCED AS AMENDED AND A PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE
SET THEREON AND PROCEEDINGS HAD AS IN THE CASE OF A
NEWLY INTRODUCED BILL. ANY BILL NOT ENACTED BY THE
LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER OF EACH YEAR SHALL BE CONSIDERED
TO HAVE FAILED. TO MEET A PUBLIC EMERGENCY AFFECTING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE, THE COUNTY MAY
ENACT EMERGENCY BILLS. EVERY EMERGENCY BILL SHALL BE
PLAINLY DESIGNATED AS SUCH AND SHALL CONTAIN, AFTER
THE ENACTING CLAUSE, A DECLARATION STATING THAT AN
EMERGENCY EXISTS AND DESCRIBING THE CLAIMED EMERGENCY
IN CLEAR AND SPECIFIC TERMS. THE TERM "EMERGENCY
BILL" SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY MEASURE CREATING OR
ABOLISHING ANY OFFICE; CHANGING THE COMPENSATION,
TERM, OR DUTY OF ANY OFFICES; GRANTING ANY FRANCHISE
OR SPECIAL PRIVILEGE; OR CREATING ANY VESTED RIGHT OR
INTEREST. NO BILL SHALL BE ENACTED EXCEPT BY THE
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE FULL COUNCIL.
NO EMERGENCY BILL SHALL BE ENACTED EXCEPT BY AN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
POLL COUNCIL.

SECTION 318. EFFECTIVE DATE OF LAWS. ANY LAW,
EXCEPT AN EMERGENCY LAW, SHALL TAKE EFFECT FORTY-FIVE
CALENDAR DAYS AFTER IT BECOMES LAW, UNLESS BY A
PROVISION OF THE LAW IT IS TO TAKE EFFECT AT A LATER
DATE, OR UNLESS IT IS PETITIONED TO REFERENDUM AS
PROVIDED IN SECTION 319 OF THIS CHARTER.

SECTION 319. REFERENDUM. ANY LAI WHICH BECOMES
LAW PURSUANT TO THIS CHARTER MAY BE PETITIONED TO
REFERENDUM, EXCEPT A LAW: (1) IMPOSING A TAX; (2)
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES OF THE COUNTY
GOVERNMENT; (3) ESTABLISHING COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT;
(4) AMENDING A ZONING MAP; OR (5) GRANTING A SPECIAL
EXCEPTION TO ZONING REGULATIONS. A LAW SHALL BE
SUBMITTED TO A REFERENDUM OF THE VOTERS UPON PETITION
OF TEN THOUSAND (10,000) QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE
COUNTY. SUCH PETITION SHALL BE FILED KITH THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
WITHIN FORTY-FIVE CALENDAR DAYS FROM THE DATE THE BILL
BECOMES LAW. IF MORE THAN ONE-THIRD BUT LESS THAN THE
FULL NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ANY
REFERENDUM PETITION AGAINST SUCH LAW BE FILED WITHIN
FORTY-FIVE CALENDAR DAYS FROM THE DATE THE BILL
BECOMES LAW, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE LAW, AND THE
TIME FOR FILING THE REMAINDER SIGNATURES TO COMPLETE
THE PETITION SHALL BE EMENDED FOR AS ADDITIONAL
FORTY-FIVE CALENDAR DAYS. IF SUCH A PETITION IS
FILED, THE LAW TO BE REFERRED SHALL NOT TAKE EFFECT
UNTIL THIRTY CALENDAR DATS AFTER ITS APPROVAL BY A