Bill Text: MO HB110 | 2013 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Changes the laws regarding the selection of public officials

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-09-11 - No Motion Made - to override Governor's veto [HB110 Detail]

Download: Missouri-2013-HB110-Comm_Sub.html

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 110

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

0039H.03C                                                                                                                                                 D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk


 

AN ACT

To repeal sections 28.190, 29.280, 30.030, 30.060, 30.070, 30.080, 105.030, 105.040, 105.050, and 115.365, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof twelve new sections relating to vacancies in certain statewide offices, with an emergency clause.




Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:


            Section A. Sections 28.190, 29.280, 30.030, 30.060, 30.070, 30.080, 105.030, 105.040, 105.050, and 115.365, RSMo, are repealed and twelve new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 26.016, 27.015, 28.190, 29.280, 30.030, 30.060, 30.080, 105.030, 105.031, 105.040, 105.050, and 115.365, to read as follows:

            26.016. In the case of any vacancy for any cause in the office of lieutenant governor, the governor shall appoint an acting lieutenant governor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term in which the vacancy occurred until a successor is elected and qualified at the next election scheduled for the lieutenant governor under section 105.031. The acting lieutenant governor shall take charge of such office and superintend the business of the office until a successor is elected and qualified. In cases of impeachment as provided in chapter 106, the lieutenant governor shall be suspended until the impeachment is determined. If the lieutenant governor is acquitted, the lieutenant governor shall be reinstated to office and the acting lieutenant governor shall be relieved of the duties of the office. If the lieutenant governor is convicted, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as provided in this section.

            27.015. In the case of any vacancy for any cause in the office of attorney general, the governor shall appoint an acting attorney general to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term in which the vacancy occurred until a successor is elected and qualified at the next election scheduled for the attorney general under section 105.031. The acting attorney general shall take charge of such office and superintend the business of the office until a successor is elected and qualified. In cases of impeachment as provided in chapter 106, the attorney general shall be suspended until the impeachment is determined. If the attorney general is acquitted, the attorney general shall be reinstated to office and the acting attorney general shall be relieved of the duties of the office. If the attorney general is convicted, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as provided in this section.

            28.190. In case of death, resignation, removal from office, impeachment, or vacancy from any cause in the office of secretary of state, the governor shall immediately appoint [a qualified person] an acting secretary of state to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term in which such vacancy occurred [and] until [his] a successor is elected [or appointed, commissioned] and qualified[; and the governor shall take charge of the office and superintend its business until such person is appointed, commissioned and qualified; except that in case of impeachment the governor shall appoint a qualified person to serve only until such impeachment is determined, when the suspended officer, if acquitted, shall be reinstated in office, or if the suspended officer is convicted, a new appointment shall be made by the governor as in the case of other vacancies] at the next election scheduled for the secretary of state under section 105.031. The acting secretary of state shall take charge of such office and superintend the business of the office until a successor is elected and qualified. In cases of impeachment as provided in chapter 106, the secretary of state shall be suspended until the impeachment is determined. If the secretary of state is acquitted, the secretary of state shall be reinstated to office and the acting secretary of state shall be relieved of the duties of the office. If the secretary of state is convicted, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as provided in this section.

            29.280. When a vacancy occurs in the office of state auditor, the governor shall immediately appoint an acting auditor to fill such vacancy for the residue of the term in which the vacancy occurred[, and] until [his] a successor is elected [or appointed, commissioned] and qualified at the next election scheduled for the state auditor under section 105.031. The acting auditor shall take charge of such office and superintend the business of the office until a successor is elected and qualified. In cases of impeachment as provided in chapter 106, the auditor shall be suspended until the impeachment is determined. If the auditor is acquitted, the auditor shall be reinstated to office and the acting auditor shall be relieved of the duties of the office. If the auditor is convicted, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as provided in this section.

            30.030. If the state treasurer fails to give the bond required in section 30.020 within sixty days after [he] the treasurer receives [his] the treasurer's certificate of election or appointment or fails to renew the bond in accordance with the provisions of section 30.020 within thirty days after the time prescribed by law for renewal, or if the bond is not approved by the governor, then twenty days after the refusal of the governor to approve the bond, [his] the treasurer's office shall be ipso facto forfeited and the governor shall take possession and supervise the business of the office until the vacancy is filled in the manner prescribed in section [30.070] 30.060.

            30.060. In case of death, resignation, removal from office, impeachment, or vacancy from any cause[,] in the office of the state treasurer, the governor shall appoint an acting state treasurer to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term in which such vacancy occurred until a successor is elected and qualified at the next election scheduled for the state treasurer under section 105.031. The acting state treasurer shall take charge of such office and superintend the business thereof until a successor is [appointed, commissioned] elected and qualified [except] . In case of impeachment[, when no appointment shall be made until a determination of the matter is had, when, in the event of an acquittal, the suspended officer shall be reinstated in office] as provided in chapter 106, the state treasurer shall be suspended until the impeachment is determined. If the state treasurer is acquitted, the state treasurer shall be reinstated to office and the acting state treasurer shall be relieved of the duties of the office. If the treasurer is convicted, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as provided in this section.

            30.080. Immediately after the appointment or election and qualification of a state treasurer, made to fill any vacancy occurring in said office, or the resumption of [his] duties by said officer, after the removal of any disability or temporary suspension therefrom the general assembly if in session, or, if such assembly be not in session, then the governor, shall cause a settlement to be made of the accounts of the former state treasurer, or any such office ad interim, remaining unsettled, and ascertain what balance, if any, is due the state or such officer, as the case may be.

            105.030. 1. Whenever any vacancy, caused in any manner or by any means whatsoever, occurs or exists in any state or county office originally filled by election of the people, other than in the offices of lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, state senator or representative, sheriff, or recorder of deeds in the city of St. Louis, the vacancy shall only be filled by appointment by the governor except that when a vacancy occurs in the office of county assessor after a general election at which a person other than the incumbent has been elected, the person so elected shall be appointed to fill the remainder of the unexpired term; and the person appointed after duly qualifying and entering upon the discharge of [his] the duties under the appointment shall continue in office until the first Monday in January next following the first ensuing general election, at which general election a person shall be elected to fill the unexpired portion of the term, or for the ensuing regular term, as the case may be, and the person so elected shall enter upon the discharge of the duties of the office the first Monday in January next following his election, except that when the term to be filled begins on any day other than the first Monday in January, the appointee of the governor shall be entitled to hold the office until such other date. This section shall not apply to vacancies in county offices in any county which has adopted a charter for its own government under section 18, article VI of the constitution. Any vacancy in the office of recorder of deeds in the city of St. Louis shall be filled by appointment by the mayor of that city.

            2. Any vacancy occurring in the offices of lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, or state treasurer shall be filled by the appointment of an acting lieutenant governor, acting attorney general, acting secretary of state, acting state auditor, or acting state treasurer by the governor, or by a special election called for such purpose under section 105.031. No person appointed by the governor under this subsection shall be eligible to be a candidate for such office to which such person was appointed under this subsection at the election to fill such office immediately following such person's appointment, but may be a candidate for such office after one intervening election has been held.

            105.031. In the case of a vacancy for any cause in the offices of senator of the United States from this state, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, or state treasurer, such vacancy shall be filled by a special election at the same time as the general election when there is a general election scheduled before the expiration of the term of such offices as required by section 17, article IV, Constitution of Missouri, or Amendment XVII of the Constitution of the United States. If there is no general election scheduled before the expiration of the term of such offices, then the acting official appointed by the governor shall serve out the remainder of the full term in office. The candidate elected and qualified at a special election held on the general election day shall take office on January first immediately following such election, and shall relieve any acting official filling such vacancy of the duties of the office. Candidates for election shall be selected by nominating committee as provided under sections 115.361 to 115.379.

            105.040. Whenever a vacancy in the office of senator of the United States from this state exists, the governor [, unless otherwise provided by law,] shall appoint [a person to fill such vacancy, who shall continue in office until a successor shall have been duly elected and qualified according to law] an acting senator of the United States to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term in which the vacancy occurred until a successor is elected and qualified at the next election under section 105.031.

            105.050. If any vacancy shall happen from any cause in the office of the [attorney general,] circuit attorney, prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney, the governor, upon being satisfied that such vacancy exists, shall appoint some competent person to fill the same until the next regular election for [attorney general,] prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney, as the case may be; provided, in the case of a vacancy in the office of prosecuting attorney, if there is no qualified person in the county who can or will accept such appointment, then the governor may appoint any person who possesses all the qualifications set forth in section 56.010, except the qualification as to residence.

            115.365. 1. The nominating committee authorized to select a candidate for nomination or election to office pursuant to section 115.363 shall be one of the following:

            (1) To select a candidate for county office, the nominating committee shall be the county committee of the party;

            (2) To select a candidate for state representative, the nominating committee shall be the legislative district committee of the party;

            (3) To select a candidate for state senator, the nominating committee shall be the senatorial district committee of the party;

            (4) To select a candidate for circuit court judge not subject to the provisions of article V, section 25 of the state constitution, the nominating committee shall be the judicial district committee of the party;

            (5) To select a candidate for representative in Congress, the nominating committee shall be the congressional district committee of the party;

            (6) To select a candidate for statewide office or senator of the United States, the nominating committee shall be the state committee of the party.

            2. After any decennial redistricting, the nominating committee shall be composed from the new districts, and the new district lines shall be used in the selection of a candidate; provided, however, that members of nominating committees for candidates for special elections to fill vacancies conducted pursuant to section 21.130 shall be from the old districts.

 

[30.070. When a vacancy occurs in the office of state treasurer, the governor shall immediately appoint a state treasurer to fill such vacancy for the residue of the term in which the vacancy occurred, and until his successor is elected or appointed, commissioned and qualified.]


            Section B. Because immediate action is necessary to preserve the democratic process in Missouri, this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.

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