Bill Text: GA HB1167 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Columbia County; Board of Commissioners; provide term limits for chairperson and members

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-04-11 - Effective Date [HB1167 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB1167-Introduced.html

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12 LC 28 6147/AP

House Bill 1167 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)

By: Representatives Harbin of the 118th, Anderson of the 117th, and Sims of the 119th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend an Act creating a new Board of Commissioners of Columbia County, approved March 21, 1980 (Ga. L. 1980, p. 3707), as amended, so to provide for term limits for the chairperson and commission members; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum; to provide for contingent effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act creating a new Board of Commissioners of Columbia County, approved March 21, 1980 (Ga. L. 1980, p. 3707), as amended, is amended by adding a new subsection to Section 2 to read as follows:

"(d) On and after January 1, 2013, neither the chairperson nor any member of the commission shall succeed himself or herself in office more than once."

SECTION 2.

Unless prohibited by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, the election superintendent of Columbia County shall call and conduct an election as provided in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of Columbia County for approval or rejection. The election superintendent shall conduct that election on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in 2012 and shall issue the call and conduct that election as provided by general law. The election superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of Columbia County. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the words:

"(  )  YES (  )  NO

Shall the Act be approved which places term limits on the chairperson and members of the Board of Commissioners of Columbia County?"

All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the Act, then this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2013. If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for rejection of the Act or the number of votes cast for approval and the number of votes cast for rejection are equal, this Act shall not become effective and shall be automatically repealed on the first day of January immediately following that election date. The expense of such election shall be borne by the Columbia County. It shall be the election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 3.

The Board of Commissioners of Columbia County shall through its legal counsel cause this Act to be submitted for preclearance under Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, not later than 45 days after the date on which this Act is approved by the Governor or otherwise becomes law without such approval.

SECTION 4.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 2 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 5.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.