44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 4, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO INCREASE TERMS OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO FOUR YEARS AND OF MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO SIX YEARS AND TO PROVIDE FOR STAGGERED TERMS FOR STATE LEGISLATORS.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 4, Section 4 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"Effective with the 2004 general election, members of the legislature shall be elected as follows: [those senators from Bernalillo, Chaves, Curry, DeBaca, Grant, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union and Valencia counties for a term of six years starting January 1, 1961, and after serving such terms shall be elected for a term of four years thereafter; those senators from all other counties for the] senators for terms of [four] six years, and members of the house of representatives for [a term of two] terms of four years. [They] The legislature shall provide by law for staggered terms of office so that one-half of the membership of the house of representatives and one-third of the membership of the senate shall be elected to office each general election. Members of the legislature shall be elected on the day provided by law for holding the general election of state officers or representatives in congress. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a senator or member of the house of representatives, for any reason, the county commissioners of the county wherein the vacancy occurs shall fill such vacancy by appointment.

Such legislative appointments as provided in this section shall be for a term ending on December 31, subsequent to the next succeeding general election."

Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date which may be called for that purpose.