44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO LIMIT THE TERMS OF STATE LEGISLATORS.

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 terms] senators for terms of four years and members of the house of representatives [a term] for terms of two years. [They] Excluding service in the legislature prior to the first session of the forty-fifth 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. 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 which may be called for that purpose.