SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 11

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

INTRODUCED BY

Allen V. Hurt









A JOINT RESOLUTION

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, TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTION OF THE LEGISLATURE IN YEARS OTHER THAN THOSE IN WHICH THE GOVERNOR IS ELECTED 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 two] terms of four years. [They] Legislators elected in the general election of 2004 shall serve for terms of four years. 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; provided that elections for members of the legislature shall not be held in the same year in which the governor is elected. 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.

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