Bill Text: GA HB1294 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Williamson, City of; terms of office of mayor and members of city council; change

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-04-11 - Effective Date [HB1294 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB1294-Introduced.html

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12 LC 21 1739/AP

House Bill 1294 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)

By: Representative Maddox of the 127th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide a new charter for the City of Williamson," approved April 7, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 5651), so as to change the terms of office of the mayor and members of the city council; to provide for elections; to provide for the submission of this Act for preclearance under Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act entitled "An Act to provide a new charter for the City of Williamson," approved April 7, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 5651), is amended by revising Section 2.11 as follows:

"SECTION 2.11.
City council terms and qualifications for office.

The members of the city council shall serve for terms of four years and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. No person shall be eligible to serve as councilmember unless such person meets the requirements of a qualified elector for members of the General Assembly, has been a resident of the city for three months immediately prior to the date of the election of members of the city council, and has no delinquent debts outstanding against him or her in favor of the city. Each councilmember shall continue to reside in the city during such councilmember's period of service and be registered and qualified to vote in municipal elections of this city."

SECTION 2.

Said Act is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Section 2.27 as follows:

"(a) The mayor shall be elected and serve for a term of four years and until a successor is elected and qualified. The mayor shall be a qualified elector of this city, shall have been a resident of the city for at least three months immediately preceding such election, and shall have no delinquent debts outstanding against him or her in favor of the city. The mayor shall continue to reside in this city during the period of service as mayor. The mayor shall forfeit office on the same grounds and under the same procedures as for councilmembers. The compensation of the mayor shall be established in the same manner as for councilmembers."

SECTION 3.

Said Act is further amended by revising Section 5.11 as follows:

"SECTION 5.11.
Regular elections; time for holding.

(a) On the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2012, there shall be an election for successors to the mayor and councilmembers representing Posts 1, 4, and 5. The persons elected at such election shall serve until December 31, 2015, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Their successors shall be elected at the general municipal election held in 2015 and quadrennially thereafter and shall take office in January, 2016, to serve terms of four years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. On the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2013, and on that day quadrennially thereafter, there shall be an election for successors to the councilmembers representing Posts 2 and 3. The terms of office shall begin at the time of taking the oath of office as provided in Section 2.18 of this charter.

(b) The mayor and councilmembers in office on the effective date of this section shall remain in office until their successors are duly elected and qualified."

SECTION 4.

The governing authority of the City of Williamson shall through its legal counsel cause this Act to be submitted for preclearance under Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, no later than 45 days after the date on which this Act is approved by the Governor or otherwise becomes law without such approval.

SECTION 5.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.