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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/04/06

HB

SHORT TITLE

Eliminate County Officer Term Limits, CA

SJR 5/aSJC

ANALYST Baca

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SJC Amendment

The Senate Judiciary Committee amendment strikes the word “may” and inserts the term “shall”,

so that the section amended now reads:

The proposal may provide that the county [may] shall either

1) eliminate the provision making county officials ineligible to hold any county office for

two years after serving two consecutive terms; or

(2) increase the number of consecutive terms all county officers may serve before becom-

ing ineligible to hold any county office for two years.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Joint Resolution 5 proposes to amend Article 10, Section 2 of the New Mexico State

Constitution to a county’s voters to choose to change or eliminate term limits for county offi-

cials. If adopted by both houses of the Legislature, this resolution shall be submitted to the

people for their approval at the next general election or any special election prior to that date that

may be called for that purpose.

Senate Joint Resolution 5 /aSJC– Page

2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no fiscal impact on the general fund. Any resolution adopted by the county commis-

sioner for submission to the voters is take place during a general election any costs associated

with the referendum should be minimal.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

SJR 5 provides that, by a majority vote, county commissioners may submit for voter approval a

resolution to change or eliminate term limits for county officials. The proposal may provide that

the county may either

1) eliminate the provision making county officials ineligible to hold any county office for

two years after serving two consecutive terms; or

(2) increase the number of consecutive terms all county officers may serve before becom-

ing ineligible to hold any county office for two years.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Administration and implementation of the provisions of this bill will be the responsibility of

county election officials.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

If this bill is not enacted, the existing limitation of two consecutive terms for elected county offi-

cials will continue.

LRB/mt:nt