STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 53rd Legislature (2011)

SENATE BILL 552	By:	Sykes

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to vacancies in state offices; ordering a legislative referendum pursuant to the Oklahoma Constitution; creating the Let the People Choose Act; amending 51 O.S. 2001, Section 10, which relates to vacancies in state and county offices; modifying the procedure for filling of vacancies; providing for noncodification; providing an effective date; providing ballot title; and directing filing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.  Pursuant to Section 3 of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution, there is hereby ordered the following legislative referendum which shall be filed with the Secretary of State and addressed to the Governor of the state, who shall submit the same to the people for their approval or rejection at the next General Election.
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Let the People Choose Act”.
SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     51 O.S. 2001, Section 10, is amended to read as follows:
Section 10.  A.  All vacancies in state offices, except in offices of the members of the Legislature, members of the House of Representatives from Oklahoma in the Congress of the United States of America and members of the Senate of the United States of America, shall be filled by appointment special election to be called by the Governor, within thirty (30) days after such vacancy occurs.  When a vacancy occurs in the office of district judge, associate district judge, or judge of any intermediate appellate court, the Governor shall, in filling such vacancy, utilize the services of the Judicial Nominating Commission in the manner as provided for in the filling of judicial offices under Section 4, Article 7B of the Oklahoma Constitution.
B.  All vacancies in county offices except the board of county commissioners or except for any elective county office of any county in the State of Oklahoma having a population of more than six hundred thousand (600,000), according to the latest Federal Decennial Census shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners.  If such an appointment is made prior to the prescribed filing period for county officers in accordance with the provisions of Section 131 of Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the county commissioners shall, at the time said the appointment is made, proclaim a special election to fill the balance of the unexpired term, providing the balance of the term does not expire in the year following the next succeeding general election.  In making the proclamation, the county commissioners shall establish the dates for the filing period, primary election, runoff primary election and general election to be the same as the next succeeding filing period, primary election, runoff primary election and general election for county officers.  The appointee shall be eligible to become a candidate at said the special election, providing said the appointee is otherwise qualified.  The office to be filled shall be printed on the same ballot as other county offices.
SECTION 4.  This act shall become effective December 1, 2013, upon approval by the people.
SECTION 5.  The Ballot Title for the proposed act shall be in the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____	State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure would change how the Governor fills vacant positions.  Vacant positions would be filled by a special election called by the Governor.  The special election must be called within thirty (30) days of the vacancy.  This measure would be effective December 1, 2013.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES	_____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO 	_____________
SECTION 6.  The Secretary of the Senate, immediately after the passage of this act, shall prepare and file one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 5 hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney General.

53-1-259	CD	1/19/2011 6:44:27 PM