Bill Text: GA HB262 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Elections; add 1 percent judicial qualifying fee to fund the Commission; provide
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-03-16 - Senate Read and Referred [HB262 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-HB262-Engrossed.html
11 HB 262/FA
House
Bill 262 (AM)
By:
Representatives Bearden of the
68th,
Willard of the
49th,
and Powell of the
171st
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to primaries and elections generally, so as to add an additional 1 percent
qualifying fee for judicial candidates for the purpose of funding the Judicial
Qualifications Commission; to provide for the establishment, collection, and
remitting of such fees; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective
dates and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
PART
I
SECTION 1-1.
SECTION 1-1.
Chapter
2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries
and elections generally, is amended by revising Code Section 21-2-131, relating
to fixing and publishing of qualification fees, manner of payment, and
distribution of fees paid, as follows:
"21-2-131.
(a)
Qualification fees for party and public offices shall be fixed and published as
follows:
(1)(A)
The governing authority of any county or municipality, not later than
February 1 of any year in which a general primary, nonpartisan election, or
general election is to be held, and at least 35 days prior to the special
primary or election in the case of a special primary or special election, shall
fix and publish a qualifying fee for each county or municipal office to be
filled in the upcoming primary or election. Except as otherwise provided in
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, such fee shall be 3 percent of the total
gross salary of the office paid in the preceding calendar year including all
supplements authorized by law if a salaried office.
(B)
For the offices of clerk of the superior court,
judge of
the probate court, sheriff,
and
tax commissioner,
and
magistrate, the qualifying fee shall be 3
percent of the minimum salary specified in subsection (a) of Code Section
15-6-88,
paragraph
(1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 15-9-63, subsection (a) of Code Section
15-10-23, paragraph (1) of subsection (a)
of Code Section 15-16-20, and paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section
48-5-183, exclusive of supplements, cost-of-living increases, and longevity
increases. For the office of members of the county governing authority, the
qualifying fee shall be 3 percent of the base salary established by local Act of
the General Assembly or by Code Section 36-5-25 as adjusted pursuant to Code
Section 36-5-24, if applicable, exclusive of compensation supplements for
training provided for in Code Section 36-5-27 and cost-of-living adjustments
pursuant to Code Section 36-5-28.
For the
offices of judge of the probate court and chief magistrate, the qualifying fee
shall be 4 percent of the minimum salary specified in paragraph (1) of
subsection (a) of Code Section 15-9-63 and subsection (a) of Code Section
15-10-23, exclusive of supplements, cost-of-living increases, and longevity
increases. For the office of judge of the state court, the qualifying fee shall
be 4 percent of the base salary of such
office. If not a salaried office, a
reasonable fee shall be set by the governing authority of such county or
municipality, such fee not to exceed 3 percent of the income derived from such
county office by the person holding the office for the preceding year or more
than $35.00 for a municipal office;
(2)
Within the same time limitation as provided in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1)
of this subsection, the Secretary of State shall fix and publish a qualifying
fee for any candidate qualifying by this method with a state political party and
for any candidate qualifying with the Secretary of State for a nonpartisan
election and for any candidate filing with the Secretary of State his or her
notice of candidacy for a general or special election. Such fee shall be 3
percent of the annual salary of the office if a salaried office, except that the
fee for members of the General Assembly shall be $400.00
and the fees
for the offices of justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals,
and judge of superior court shall be 4 percent of the annual salary of the
office. If not a salaried office, a
reasonable fee shall be set by the Secretary of State, such fee not to exceed 3
percent of the income derived from such office by the person holding the office
for the preceding year;
(3)
A reasonable qualifying fee may be set according to party rule for each
political party office to be filled in a primary. Such fees shall be set and
published by the county or state political party not later than February 1 of
the year in which the primary is to be held for the filling of such party
office.
(b)
Qualifying fees shall be paid as follows:
(1)
The qualifying fee for a candidate in a primary shall be paid to the county or
state political party at the time the candidate qualifies;
(2)
The qualifying fee for all other candidates shall be paid to the superintendent
or Secretary of State at the time the notice of candidacy is filed by the
candidate.
(c)
Qualifying fees shall be prorated and distributed as follows:
(1)
Fees paid to the county political party: 50 percent to be retained by the county
political party with which the candidate qualified; 50 percent to be transmitted
to the superintendent of the county with the party's certified list of
candidates not later than 12:00 Noon of the third day after the deadline for
qualifying in the case of a general primary and by 12:00 Noon of the day
following the closing of qualifications in the case of a special primary. Such
fees shall be transmitted as soon as practicable by the superintendent to the
governing authority of the county, to be applied toward the cost of the primary
and election;
(2)
Fees paid to the state political party: 75 percent to be retained by the state
political party; 25 percent to be transmitted to the Secretary of State with the
party's certified list of candidates not later than 12:00 Noon of the third day
after the deadline for qualifying in the case of a general primary and by 12:00
Noon of the day following the closing of qualifications in the case of a special
primary. Such fees shall be transmitted as soon as practicable by the Secretary
of State as follows: one-third to the state treasury and two-thirds divided
among the governing authorities of the counties in the candidate's district in
proportion to the population of each such county according to the last United
States decennial census, such fees to be applied to the cost of holding the
election;
(3)
Qualification fees paid to the superintendent of the county:
(A)
If the person qualifies as a candidate of a political body, 50 percent shall be
transmitted to the state executive committee of the appropriate political body
and 50 percent shall be retained by the superintendent of the
county;
(B)
If the person qualifies directly with the election superintendent as a candidate
of a political party in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 21-2-153,
25 percent shall be transmitted to the state executive committee of the
appropriate political party and 75 percent shall be retained by the
superintendent of the county; and
(C)
If the person qualifies as an independent or nonpartisan candidate, the
superintendent of the county shall retain the entire amount of the fees
except for the
fees from candidates for the office of judge of state court, judge of probate
court, and chief magistrate. The superintendent shall retain 75 percent of the
fees from candidates for the office of judge of state court, judge of probate
court, and chief magistrate and remit 25 percent of the fees to the Secretary of
State.
Such
fees, except
for the portion of the fees from candidates for the office of judge of state
court, judge of probate court, and chief magistrate that is to be remitted to
the Secretary of State, shall be
transmitted as soon as practicable by the superintendent to the governing
authority of the county, to be applied toward the cost of holding the
election. The
portion of the fees from candidates for the office of judge of state court,
judge of probate court, and chief magistrate that is to be remitted to the
Secretary of State shall be transmitted as soon as practicable to the Secretary
of State;
(4)
Qualification fees paid to the Secretary of State shall be prorated and
distributed as follows:
(A)
If the person qualifies as the candidate of a political body, 75 percent shall
be transmitted to the appropriate political body and 25 percent shall be
retained by the Secretary of State; and
(B)
If the person qualifies as an independent or nonpartisan candidate, the
Secretary of State shall retain the entire amount of the fees.
Such
fees, except
for 25 percent of the fees received from candidates for the offices of justice
of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, and judge of superior
court, shall be transmitted as soon as
practicable by the Secretary of State as follows: one-third to the state
treasury and two-thirds divided among the governing authorities of the counties
in proportion to the population of each county according to the last United
States decennial census, such fees to be applied to the cost of holding the
election. The
25 percent of the fees received from candidates for the offices of justice of
the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, and judge of superior court
and the portion of the fees from the county election superintendents from
candidates for the offices of judge of state court, judge of probate court, and
chief magistrate shall be transmitted by the Secretary of State to state
treasury as a separate item designated as additional judicial qualifying fees.
As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, the Office of the
State Treasurer shall report the amount of additional judicial qualifying fees
received from the Secretary of State pursuant to this Code section to the Office
of Planning and Budget and the Judicial Qualifications Commission. It is the
intent of the General Assembly that, subject to appropriation, an amount equal
to such proceeds received from such additional judicial qualifying fees shall be
made available during the following two fiscal years to the Judicial
Qualifications Commission for its
operations;
(5)
Qualification fees paid to the superintendent of a municipality:
(A)
If the person qualifies as a candidate of a political body, 50 percent shall be
transmitted to the state executive committee of the appropriate political body
and 50 percent shall be retained by the superintendent of the municipality;
and
(B)
If the person qualifies as an independent or nonpartisan candidate, the
superintendent of the municipality shall retain the entire amount of the
fees.
Such
fees shall be transmitted as soon as practicable by the superintendent to the
governing authority of the municipality, to be applied toward the cost of
holding the election."
PART
II
SECTION 2-1.
SECTION 2-1.
Chapter
2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries
and elections generally, is amended by revising Code Section 21-2-131, relating
to fixing and publishing of qualification fees, manner of payment, and
distribution of fees paid, as follows:
"21-2-131.
(a)
Qualification fees for party and public offices shall be fixed and published as
follows:
(1)(A)
The governing authority of any county or municipality, not later than
February 1 of any year in which a general primary, nonpartisan election, or
general election is to be held, and at least 35 days prior to the special
primary or election in the case of a special primary or special election, shall
fix and publish a qualifying fee for each county or municipal office to be
filled in the upcoming primary or election. Except as otherwise provided in
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, such fee shall be 3 percent of the total
gross salary of the office paid in the preceding calendar year including all
supplements authorized by law if a salaried office.
(B)
For the offices of clerk of the superior court,
judge of the
probate court, sheriff,
and
tax commissioner,
and
magistrate, the qualifying fee shall be 3
percent of the minimum salary specified in subsection (a) of Code Section
15-6-88,
paragraph (1)
of subsection (a) of Code Section 15-9-63, subsection (a) of Code Section
15-10-23, paragraph (1) of subsection (a)
of Code Section 15-16-20, and paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section
48-5-183, exclusive of supplements, cost-of-living increases, and longevity
increases. For the office of members of the county governing authority, the
qualifying fee shall be 3 percent of the base salary established by local Act of
the General Assembly or by Code Section 36-5-25 as adjusted pursuant to Code
Section 36-5-24, if applicable, exclusive of compensation supplements for
training provided for in Code Section 36-5-27 and cost-of-living adjustments
pursuant to Code Section 36-5-28.
For the
offices of judge of the probate court and chief magistrate, the qualifying fee
shall be 4 percent of the minimum salary specified in paragraph (1) of
subsection (a) of Code Section 15-9-63 and subsection (a) of Code Section
15-10-23, exclusive of supplements, cost-of-living increases, and longevity
increases. For the office of judge of the state court, the qualifying fee shall
be 4 percent of the base salary of such
office. If not a salaried office, a
reasonable fee shall be set by the governing authority of such county or
municipality, such fee not to exceed 3 percent of the income derived from such
county office by the person holding the office for the preceding year or more
than $35.00 for a municipal office;
(2)
Within the same time limitation as provided in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1)
of this subsection, the Secretary of State shall fix and publish a qualifying
fee for any candidate qualifying by this method with a state political party and
for any candidate qualifying with the Secretary of State for a nonpartisan
election and for any candidate filing with the Secretary of State his or her
notice of candidacy for a general or special election. Such fee shall be 3
percent of the annual salary of the office if a salaried office, except that the
fee for members of the General Assembly shall be $400.00
and the
fees for the offices of justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of
Appeals, and judge of superior court shall be 4 percent of the annual salary of
the office. If not a salaried office, a
reasonable fee shall be set by the Secretary of State, such fee not to exceed 3
percent of the income derived from such office by the person holding the office
for the preceding year;
(3)
A reasonable qualifying fee may be set according to party rule for each
political party office to be filled in a primary. Such fees shall be set and
published by the county or state political party not later than February 1 of
the year in which the primary is to be held for the filling of such party
office.
(b)
Qualifying fees shall be paid as follows:
(1)
The qualifying fee for a candidate in a primary shall be paid to the county or
state political party at the time the candidate qualifies;
(2)
The qualifying fee for all other candidates shall be paid to the superintendent
or Secretary of State at the time the notice of candidacy is filed by the
candidate.
(c)
Qualifying fees shall be prorated and distributed as follows:
(1)
Fees paid to the county political party: 50 percent to be retained by the county
political party with which the candidate qualified; 50 percent to be transmitted
to the superintendent of the county with the party's certified list of
candidates not later than 12:00 Noon of the third day after the deadline for
qualifying in the case of a general primary and by 12:00 Noon of the day
following the closing of qualifications in the case of a special primary. Such
fees shall be transmitted as soon as practicable by the superintendent to the
governing authority of the county, to be applied toward the cost of the primary
and election;
(2)
Fees paid to the state political party: 75 percent to be retained by the state
political party; 25 percent to be transmitted to the Secretary of State with the
party's certified list of candidates not later than 12:00 Noon of the third day
after the deadline for qualifying in the case of a general primary and by 12:00
Noon of the day following the closing of qualifications in the case of a special
primary. Such fees shall be transmitted as soon as practicable by the Secretary
of State as follows: one-third to the state treasury and two-thirds divided
among the governing authorities of the counties in the candidate's district in
proportion to the population of each such county according to the last United
States decennial census, such fees to be applied to the cost of holding the
election;
(3)
Qualification fees paid to the superintendent of the county:
(A)
If the person qualifies as a candidate of a political body, 50 percent shall be
transmitted to the state executive committee of the appropriate political body
and 50 percent shall be retained by the superintendent of the
county;
(B)
If the person qualifies directly with the election superintendent as a candidate
of a political party in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 21-2-153,
25 percent shall be transmitted to the state executive committee of the
appropriate political party and 75 percent shall be retained by the
superintendent of the county; and
(C)
If the person qualifies as an independent or nonpartisan candidate, the
superintendent of the county shall retain the entire amount of the fees
except for
the fees from candidates for the office of judge of state court, judge of
probate court, and chief magistrate. The superintendent shall retain 75 percent
of the fees from candidates for the office of judge of state court, judge of
probate court, and chief magistrate and remit 25 percent of the fees to the
Secretary of State.
Such
fees,
except for the portion of the fees from candidates for the office of judge of
state court, judge of probate court, and chief magistrate that is to be remitted
to the Secretary of State, shall be
transmitted as soon as practicable by the superintendent to the governing
authority of the county, to be applied toward the cost of holding the
election.
The portion of the fees from candidates for the office of judge of state court,
judge of probate court, and chief magistrate that is to be remitted to the
Secretary of State shall be transmitted as soon as practicable to the Secretary
of State;
(4)
Qualification fees paid to the Secretary of State shall be prorated and
distributed as follows:
(A)
If the person qualifies as the candidate of a political body, 75 percent shall
be transmitted to the appropriate political body and 25 percent shall be
retained by the Secretary of State; and
(B)
If the person qualifies as an independent or nonpartisan candidate, the
Secretary of State shall retain the entire amount of the fees.
Such
fees,
except for 25 percent of the fees received from candidates for the offices of
justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, and judge of
superior court, shall be transmitted as
soon as practicable by the Secretary of State as follows: one-third to the state
treasury and two-thirds divided among the governing authorities of the counties
in proportion to the population of each county according to the last United
States decennial census, such fees to be applied to the cost of holding the
election.
The 25 percent of the fees received from candidates for the offices of justice
of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, and judge of superior court
and the portion of the fees from the county election superintendents from
candidates for the offices of judge of state court, judge of probate court, and
chief magistrate shall be transmitted by the Secretary of State to state
treasury as a separate item designated as additional judicial qualifying fees.
As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, the Office of the
State Treasurer shall report the amount of additional judicial qualifying fees
received from the Secretary of State pursuant to this Code section to the Office
of Planning and Budget and the Judicial Qualifications Commission. It is the
intent of the General Assembly that, subject to appropriation, an amount equal
to such proceeds received from such additional judicial qualifying fees shall be
made available during the following two fiscal years to the Judicial
Qualifications Commission for its
operations;
(5)
Qualification fees paid to the superintendent of a municipality:
(A)
If the person qualifies as a candidate of a political body, 50 percent shall be
transmitted to the state executive committee of the appropriate political body
and 50 percent shall be retained by the superintendent of the municipality;
and
(B)
If the person qualifies as an independent or nonpartisan candidate, the
superintendent of the municipality shall retain the entire amount of the
fees.
Such
fees shall be transmitted as soon as practicable by the superintendent to the
governing authority of the municipality, to be applied toward the cost of
holding the election."
PART
III
SECTION 3-1.
SECTION 3-1.
Part
I of this Act shall become effective on July 1, 2011. Part II of this Act shall
become effective on January 1, 2015. The remainder of this Act shall become
effective upon its approval by the Governor or its becoming law without such
approval.
SECTION
3-2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.