STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 52nd Legislature (2009)

HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 1022	By:	Murphey

AS INTRODUCED

A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State to refer to the people for their approval or rejection proposed amendments to Sections 4 and 23 of Article VI and Section 15 of Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma; limiting the term of office of certain elected officials; providing ballot title; and directing filing.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1.  The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law, the following proposed amendments to Sections 4 and 23 of Article VI and Section 15 of Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma to read as follows:
ARTICLE VI
Section 4.  The term of office of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor and Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be four (4) years from the second Monday of January next after their election.  The said officers shall be eligible to immediately succeed themselves.  No person shall be elected Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor, or Superintendent of Public Instruction more than two times in succession.
Section 23.  There shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State, at the first general election, a chief officer of said department, who shall be styled "The Insurance Commissioner," whose term of office shall be four years:  Provided, That the first term of the Insurance Commissioner so elected, shall expire at the time of the expiration of the term of office of the first Governor elected.  No person shall be elected Insurance Commissioner more than two times in succession.  Said Insurance Commissioner shall be at least twenty‑five years of age and well versed in insurance matters.
ARTICLE IX
Section 15.  A Corporation Commission is hereby created, to be composed of three persons, who shall be elected by the people at a general election for State officers, and their terms of office shall be six years:  Provided, Corporation Commissioners first elected under this Constitution shall hold office as follows:  One shall serve until the second Monday in January, nineteen hundred and nine; one until the second Monday in January, nineteen hundred and eleven; and one until the second Monday in January nineteen hundred and thirteen; their terms to be decided by lot immediately after they shall have qualified.  No person shall be elected Corporation Commissioner more than two times in succession.  In case of a vacancy in said office, the Governor of the State shall fill such vacancy by appointment until the next general election, when a successor shall be elected to fill out any unexpired term.
SECTION 2.  The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional amendments as set forth in SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____	State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution.  It amends Sections 4 and 23 of Article 6.  It also amends Section 15 of Article 9.  This measure limits the number of terms of office in a row a person can serve for certain offices.  It limits a person to two terms in a row.  This measure affects several different state elected offices.  It affects the office of Lieutenant Governor.  It affects the office of State Auditor and Inspector.  It affects the office of Attorney General.  It affects the office of State Treasurer.  It affects the office of Commissioner of Labor.  It affects the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.  It affects the office of Insurance Commissioner.  It affects the office of Corporation Commissioner.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES	_____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO 	_____________
SECTION 3.  The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, immediately after the passage of this resolution, shall prepare and file one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 2 hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney General.

52-1-5855	LRB	01/05/09