HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 29

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

INTRODUCED BY

Don Tripp









A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 4, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO LIMIT THE TERMS OF STATE LEGISLATORS AND TO PROVIDE FOR FILLING VACANCIES.



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:

"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 years, and members of the house of representatives for [a term of] terms of two years. [They] Excluding service in the legislature prior to the first session of the forty-seventh legislature or appointment to a vacant office, no legislator shall serve more than a total of three terms in the senate and six terms in the house of representatives. 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, and the legislative district is situated wholly within one county, the county commissioners of the county wherein the vacancy occurs shall fill such vacancy by appointment; if the legislative district is situated within two or more counties, the county commission of each county in the district shall submit one name to the governor and the governor shall appoint the legislator to fill the vacancy from the list of submitted names.

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 that may be called for that purpose.