STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 54th Legislature (2014)

HOUSE BILL 2695	By:	Johnson

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to counties and county officers; amending 19 O.S. 2011, Section 131, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 300, O.S.L. 2013 (19 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 131), which relates to county officers; modifying election years; providing term limits for certain county offices; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     19 O.S. 2011, Section 131, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 300, O.S.L. 2013 (19 O.S. Supp. 2013, Section 131), is amended to read as follows:
Section 131.  A.  At the general election to be held in November 1974, there shall be elected in each county of the state, a court clerk, a county sheriff, and a county clerk who shall hold office for a term of two (2) years, the terms of the court clerk, county sheriff and county clerk beginning on the first Monday in January following their election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.  At the general election to be held in November 1976 2014, and each four (4) years thereafter, there shall be elected in each county of the state, a court clerk, a county sheriff, and a county clerk who shall hold office for a term of four (4) years; the terms of the court clerk, the county sheriff and the county clerk, beginning on the first business day in January following their election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
B.  At the general election to be held in November 1974 2014, and each four (4) years thereafter, there shall be elected in each county of the state, a county assessor and a county treasurer, who shall hold office for a term of four (4) years.  The term of the county assessor shall begin on the first business day in January following the election, and shall terminate when a successor is elected and qualified.  The term of the county treasurer shall begin on the first Monday in July following the election and shall terminate when the successor is duly elected and qualified.
C.  At the general election to be held in November 1990 2014, and each four (4) years thereafter, there shall be elected in each county of the state two county commissioners, one from the first county commissioner district and one from the third county commissioner district, who shall hold office for a term of four (4) years.  At the general election to be held in November 1990, there shall be elected in each county of the state one county commissioner from the second county commissioner district who shall hold office for a term of six (6) years.  At the general election to be held in November 1996 2014, and each four (4) years thereafter, there shall be elected in each county of the state, one county commissioner from the second county commissioner district, who shall hold office for a term of four (4) years.  The terms of the county commissioners shall begin on the first business day in January following their election, and shall terminate when their successors are elected and qualified.
D.  A county officer shall be eligible to become a candidate for another county office or state office.
E.  In order to file as a candidate for county commissioner in a county commissioner's district, the candidate must have been a qualified registered elector and have maintained a current principal residence in that district for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the first day of the filing period prescribed by law.  Evidence of a "principal residence" may include, but not be limited to, the address listed on:
1.  A federal or state tax return;
2.  A driver license; or
3.  An automobile registration.
F.  Any officer listed in this section who is elected to office after the effective date of this amendment shall be eligible to serve no more than twelve (12) years in office.  Years in office need not be consecutive and years of service in multiple offices listed in this section shall be added together and included in determining the total number of years in office.  The years served by an official in this section elected or appointed to serve less than a full term to fill a vacancy in office shall not be included in the twelve-year limitation set forth herein; but no official who has completed twelve (12) years in office shall thereafter be eligible to serve a partial term.  Any official in this section who is serving a term in office or who has been elected or appointed to serve a term in office on the effective date hereof shall be entitled to complete his or her term and shall be eligible to serve an additional twelve (12) years thereafter.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2014.
SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

54-2-9489	LRB	12/16/13