Georgia-2009-HB1481-Introduced

To amend an Act providing that the judge of the Probate Court of Union County shall serve as chief magistrate of the Magistrate Court of Union County, approved February 25, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 3504), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 9, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 3799), so as to provide that the probate judge of Union County shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis; to provided for related matters; to provide for submission of this Act under Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

An Act providing that the judge of the Probate Court of Union County shall serve as chief magistrate of the Magistrate Court of Union County, approved February 25, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 3504), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 9, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 3799), is amended by revising subsection (a) of Section (1) as follows:

"(a) The chief magistrate of Union County shall continue to serve as such until the expiration of his or her term on December 31, 2012. Beginning at the general election of 2012, a successor chief magistrate shall be elected by the voters of Union County. At such election and at every election thereafter, the chief magistrate shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis. The chief magistrate shall serve for a term of four years."

The governing authority of Union 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; and such submission shall be made to the United States Department of Justice or filed with the appropriate court no later than 60 days after the date on which this Act is approved by the Governor or otherwise becomes law without such approval.