Bill Text: GA HB193 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Union County; chief magistrate elections; nonpartisan basis; provide

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-05-11 - Effective Date [HB193 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB193-Introduced.html

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11 LC 28 5375/AP

House Bill 193 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)

By: Representative Allison of the 8th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

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 chief magistrate shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis; to provide for submission of this Act under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

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 on the effective date of this Act shall continue to serve as such until the expiration of his or her term of office on December 31, 2012. At the nonpartisan general election of 2012, a successor chief magistrate shall be elected by the voters of Union County for a term of four years beginning on January 1, 2013, and until a successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, successor chief magistrates shall be elected by the voters of Union County at the nonpartisan general election immediately preceding the expiration of the term of office and shall take office on the first day of January immediately following such election for a term of four years and until a successor is elected and qualified. All elections for the office of chief magistrate of Union County conducted after the effective date of this subsection shall be nonpartisan elections as provided for in Code Section 21-2-139 of the O.C.G.A. and shall be held and conducted as provided in Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., the 'Georgia Election Code.'"

SECTION 2.

Nothing in this Act shall affect the term of office of the chief magistrate of Union County in office on the effective date of this Act. The sitting chief magistrate shall serve out the term of office for which such chief magistrate was elected and shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself as provided in this Act.

SECTION 3.

The governing authority of Union County shall through its legal counsel cause this Act to be submitted for preclearance under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, not later than 60 days after the date on which this Act is approved by the Governor or otherwise becomes law without such approval.

SECTION 4.

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.