Bill Text: GA HB776 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Elections; nonpartisan elections for members of consolidated governments considered county elections; provide
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-19 - Senate Read Second Time [HB776 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-HB776-Introduced.html
12 LC 28
5907
House
Bill 776
By:
Representatives Sims of the
119th,
Harbin of the
118th,
Maxwell of the
17th,
and Ramsey of the
72nd
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, so as to provide that nonpartisan elections for
members of consolidated governments shall be considered county elections and not
municipal elections; to provide for legislative intent; to provide an effective
date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries
and elections, is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 21-2-139,
relating to the authorization and conduct of nonpartisan elections, as
follows:
"(a)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, the
General Assembly may provide by local Act for the election in nonpartisan
elections of candidates to fill county judicial offices, offices of local school
boards, and offices of consolidated governments which are filled by the vote of
the electors of said county or political subdivision. Except as otherwise
provided in this Code section, the procedures to be employed in such nonpartisan
elections shall conform as nearly as practicable to the procedures governing
nonpartisan elections as provided in this chapter. Except as otherwise provided
in this Code section, the election procedures established by any existing local
law which provides for the nonpartisan election of candidates to fill county
offices shall conform to the general procedures governing nonpartisan elections
as provided in this chapter, and such nonpartisan elections shall be conducted
in accordance with the applicable provisions of this chapter, notwithstanding
the provisions of any existing local law. For those offices for which the
General Assembly, pursuant to this Code section, provided by local Act for
election in nonpartisan primaries and elections, such offices shall no longer
require nonpartisan primaries. Such officers shall be elected in nonpartisan
elections held and conducted in conjunction with the general primary in
even-numbered years in accordance with this chapter without a prior nonpartisan
primary. This
Code section shall apply to all nonpartisan elections for members of
consolidated governments. All nonpartisan elections for members of consolidated
governments shall be governed by the provisions of this Code section and shall
be considered county elections and not municipal elections for the purposes of
this Code section. Nonpartisan elections
for municipal offices shall be conducted on the dates provided in the municipal
charter."
SECTION
2.
This
Act is not intended by the General Assembly to create any new provision of law
but only to clarify the intent of the General Assembly in passing the original
legislation.
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.