HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Dennis J. Kintigh

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 4, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE TERMS THAT STATE LEGISLATORS MAY SERVE.

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] terms of two years. [They] Excluding terms in the senate ending prior to January 1, 2013 and time served during appointment to a vacant office, a senator shall not serve more than three consecutive terms in the senate. Excluding terms in the house of representatives ending prior to January 1, 2013 and time served during appointment to a vacant office, a member of the house of representatives shall not serve more than six consecutive terms in the house of representatives. Senators and members of the house of representatives 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."

     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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