08 LC 35
0959/AP
House
Bill 1480 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representative Pruett of the
144th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend an Act creating the office of commissioner of Dodge County, approved
August 19, 1912 (Ga. L. 1912, p. 367), as amended, particularly by an Act
approved April 21, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 4417), as amended, so as to change the
terms of office of the members of the board of commissioners and provide for
staggered terms; to provide that the members of the board elected from
commissioner districts shall be elected by a majority vote of the electors
voting within their respective commissioner districts; to provide that the
chairperson shall be elected by a majority vote of the electors of the entire
county voting in an election for such office; to provide for related matters; to
require submission of this Act pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act of
1965; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
An
Act creating the office of commissioner of Dodge County, approved August 19,
1912 (Ga. L. 1912, p. 367), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April
21, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 4417), as amended, is amended by striking Section 4
and inserting in lieu thereof a new Section 4 as follows:
"SECTION
4.
(a)
Beginning with the general election of 2008 and the taking of office on January
1, 2009, the members of the board of commissioners shall be composed of a
chairperson elected county-wide and four commissioners elected from Districts 1
through 4. Members appointed or elected to fill vacancies on such board prior
to December 31, 2008, shall serve for terms of office which expire December 31,
2008. Following the 2008 general election, members shall be elected and serve
terms of office as follows:
(1)
The members of the board of commissioners elected to Districts 1 and 4 shall
serve for terms of four years beginning January 1, 2009;
(2)
The members of the board of commissioners elected to Districts 2 and 3 shall
serve for terms of two years beginning January 1, 2009, and shall serve for
terms of four years beginning January 1, 2011, and thereafter, following the
2010 general election; and
(3)
One member shall be elected county-wide who shall be the chairperson of the
board of commissioners who shall serve for a term of four years beginning
January 1, 2009.
(b)
Members of the board shall serve for the terms of office specified in subsection
(a) of this section and until their respective successors are elected and
qualified. The members of the board elected from commissioner districts shall
be elected by a majority vote of the electors voting within their respective
commissioner districts. The chairperson shall be elected by a majority vote of
the electors of the entire county voting in an election for such office.
Positions on the board shall be chairperson and commissioners from Commissioner
Districts 1 through 4, and all candidates for membership on the board shall
designate the position for which they are offering."
SECTION
2.
Pursuant
to Section 5 of the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, it shall be
the duty of the attorney of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners to submit
this Act to the United States Attorney General for approval.
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.