HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 9

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Rod Montoya

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 4, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO CHANGE THE INDIVIDUAL TERMS OF SERVICE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO FOUR YEARS, TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTIONS OF STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO COINCIDE WITH GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS AND TO LIMIT STATE LEGISLATORS TO NO MORE THAN SIXTEEN YEARS OF ELECTED SERVICE.

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:

          "A. Members of the [legislature] senate 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 terms of four years] and beginning with the general election of 2022, members of the house of representatives shall be elected for a term of [two] four years. [They]

          B. 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 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.

          C. A person who has served as a member of the legislature for a total of sixteen years shall not be eligible for further election or appointment to the senate or the house of representatives, and a person shall not be eligible for election or appointment to the senate or the house of representatives if the term of that office would result in total years of service in the legislature for that person exceeding sixteen years."

     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 that may be called for that purpose.

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