Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §553, as enacted by IB 1993, c. 1, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

§553. Limitations on terms

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, consecutive terms in office are limited as follows.

1. State Senate. A person may not serve more than 4 6 consecutive terms as a state Senator.

2. State Representative. A person may not serve more than 4 6 consecutive terms as a member of the state House of Representatives.

3. Secretary of State. A person may not serve more than 4 6 consecutive terms as Secretary of State.

4. Treasurer of State. A person may not serve more than 4 6 consecutive terms as Treasurer of State.

5. Attorney General. A person may not serve more than 4 6 consecutive terms as Attorney General.

6. State Auditor. A person may not serve more than 2 3 consecutive terms as State Auditor.

This section applies to terms of office that begin on or after December 3, 1996.

Sec. 2. Statutory referendum procedure; submission at general election; form of question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State of Maine at a general election held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November following passage of this Act in the year 2000. The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a general election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:

"Do you favor increasing term limits to 12 years for elected officials and constitutional officers?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question, and shall designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same