HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 20

45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

INTRODUCED BY

Ray Begaye









A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO ABOLISH THE ELECTED POSITION OF COUNTY CLERK.



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

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 6, Section 22 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"Until otherwise provided by law, a county clerk [shall be elected in each county who] shall [in the county for which he is elected] perform all the duties now performed by the [clerks of the district courts and] clerks of the probate courts."

Section 2. It is proposed to amend Article 10, Section 2 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"A. In every county all elected officials shall serve four-year terms, subject to the provisions of Subsection B of this section.

B. In those counties that prior to 1992 have not had four-year terms for elected officials, the assessor, sheriff and probate judge shall be elected to four-year terms and the treasurer [and clerk] shall be elected to a two-year [terms] term in the first election following the adoption of this amendment. In subsequent elections, the treasurer [and clerk] shall be elected to a four-year [terms] term.

C. To provide for staggered county commission terms, in counties with three county commissioners, the terms of no more than two commissioners shall expire in the same year; and in counties with five county commissioners, the terms of no more than three commissioners shall expire in the same year.

D. All county officers, after having served two consecutive four-year terms, shall be ineligible to hold any county office for two years thereafter.

E. Upon adoption of this amendment by the people, the position of county clerk shall not be on the ballot beginning with the general election in 2002. Elected county clerks may fill out the remainder of their terms."

Section 3. 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.