07 LC 37
0347
House
Bill 757
By:
Representative Smith of the
168th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
create a board of elections and registration for Bacon County and provide for
its powers and duties; to provide for definitions; to provide for the
composition of the board and the selection and appointment of its members; to
provide for the qualification, terms, and removal of members and for filling
vacancies; to provide for oaths and privileges; to relieve certain boards and
officers of certain powers and duties and provide for the transfer of functions
to the newly created board; to provide for certain expenditures of public funds;
to provide for compensation of members of the board and personnel; to provide
for officers and equipment; to provide for the board´s performance of
certain functions and duties for certain municipalities; to provide for related
matters; to provide for submission for preclearance under Section 5 of the
federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to provide for effective dates;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Pursuant
to Code Section 21-2-40 of the O.C.G.A., there is created the Bacon County Board
of Elections and Registration, herein referred to as "the board." The board
shall have the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the judge of the probate
court of Bacon County under Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., the "Georgia
Election Code," and the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the board of
registrars of Bacon County under Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., the
"Georgia Election Code."
SECTION
2.
The
terms "election," "elector," "political party," "primary," and "public office"
shall have the same meanings as set forth in Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the
O.C.G.A., the "Georgia Election Code," unless otherwise clearly apparent from
the text of this Act, and the term "commissioners" means the board of
commissioners of Bacon County and "county" means Bacon County.
SECTION
3.
(a)
The board shall be composed of five members, each of whom shall be an elector of
Bacon County and shall be appointed as provided in this
section.
(b) Three members of the board shall be selected by the governing authority of Bacon County.
(c) One member of the board shall be appointed by the county executive committee of the political party which received the highest number of votes within the county for its candidate for Governor in the general election immediately preceding the appointment of such member. One member of the board shall be appointed by the county executive committee of the political party which received the second highest number of votes within the county for its candidate for Governor in the general election immediately preceding the appointment of such member. In the event that there is no county executive committee of a political party entitled to make an appointment under this subsection, the appointment on behalf of such political party shall be made by the state executive committee of such party.
(d) All appointments to the board shall be promptly certified by the appointing authority of Bacon County to the clerk of the Superior Court of Bacon County.
(e) In making the initial appointments to the board, the members shall be appointed not later than June 1, 2007. All members shall serve staggered terms of three years each beginning on July 1 of the year and ending on June 30 of the third year, except for the first board appointed. In making its initial appointments, the governing authority of Bacon County shall designate one of its three appointees to serve a term of one year ending on June 30, 2008; the other two appointees of the governing authority of Bacon County shall be appointed for initial terms of two years ending on June 30, 2009. The political parties shall designate their appointees to serve initial terms of three years ending on June 30, 2010. As the initial term of each board member expires, a successor board member shall be appointed for a full three-year term. Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, each member appointed shall serve until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified and takes office. All board appointments shall be made at least 30 days prior to the end of the term of the board member whose term is about to expire.
(f) The board of commissioners shall select one board member to serve as chairperson and a second member to serve as vice chairperson, both to serve at the pleasure of the board of commissioners. Such chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the board and shall vote. The vice chairperson shall serve in the absence of the chairperson.
(g) Three board members present at any duly held or called meeting shall constitute a quorum for transacting all business before the board.
(h) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act to the contrary, board members may be removed for cause by the board of commissioners.
(b) Three members of the board shall be selected by the governing authority of Bacon County.
(c) One member of the board shall be appointed by the county executive committee of the political party which received the highest number of votes within the county for its candidate for Governor in the general election immediately preceding the appointment of such member. One member of the board shall be appointed by the county executive committee of the political party which received the second highest number of votes within the county for its candidate for Governor in the general election immediately preceding the appointment of such member. In the event that there is no county executive committee of a political party entitled to make an appointment under this subsection, the appointment on behalf of such political party shall be made by the state executive committee of such party.
(d) All appointments to the board shall be promptly certified by the appointing authority of Bacon County to the clerk of the Superior Court of Bacon County.
(e) In making the initial appointments to the board, the members shall be appointed not later than June 1, 2007. All members shall serve staggered terms of three years each beginning on July 1 of the year and ending on June 30 of the third year, except for the first board appointed. In making its initial appointments, the governing authority of Bacon County shall designate one of its three appointees to serve a term of one year ending on June 30, 2008; the other two appointees of the governing authority of Bacon County shall be appointed for initial terms of two years ending on June 30, 2009. The political parties shall designate their appointees to serve initial terms of three years ending on June 30, 2010. As the initial term of each board member expires, a successor board member shall be appointed for a full three-year term. Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, each member appointed shall serve until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified and takes office. All board appointments shall be made at least 30 days prior to the end of the term of the board member whose term is about to expire.
(f) The board of commissioners shall select one board member to serve as chairperson and a second member to serve as vice chairperson, both to serve at the pleasure of the board of commissioners. Such chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the board and shall vote. The vice chairperson shall serve in the absence of the chairperson.
(g) Three board members present at any duly held or called meeting shall constitute a quorum for transacting all business before the board.
(h) Notwithstanding any provision of this Act to the contrary, board members may be removed for cause by the board of commissioners.
SECTION
4.
The
Bacon County Board of Commissioners shall select and appoint a person as
election supervisor to serve at the pleasure of the board of commissioners. The
board of commissioners may appoint the chairperson of the board of elections or
any other qualified person to serve as election superintendent. The Bacon
County Board of Commissioners shall set the pay and salary of such elections
supervisor. The election supervisor or his or her designee shall generally
direct and control the administration of the affairs of the board pursuant to
law and duly adopted resolutions of the board. The election supervisor shall be
supervised by the board of commissioners and shall be deemed to be an at-will
employee of the board of commissioners subject to removal at any time, with or
without cause, by the board of commissioners of Bacon County. The board of
commissioners may also appoint an assistant election supervisor who shall carry
out the duties of the election supervisor in the absence of such
person.
SECTION
5.
Each
member of the board shall:
(1)
Be eligible to be reappointed to succeed himself or herself;
(2)
Have the right to resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her
resignation to the governing authority of Bacon County; and
(3)
Serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified and takes
office.
SECTION
6.
(a)
The appointing authority shall certify the appointment of each member of the
board by filing an affidavit with the clerk of the superior court no later than
30 days preceding the date upon which such members are to take office, stating
the name and residential address of the person appointed and certifying such
member has been duly appointed as provided in this
Act.
(b) The clerk of the superior court shall record each of such certifications on the minutes of the superior court and shall certify the name of each such appointed member to the Secretary of State and provide for the issuance of appropriate commissions to the members within the same time and in the same manner as provided by law for registrars.
(b) The clerk of the superior court shall record each of such certifications on the minutes of the superior court and shall certify the name of each such appointed member to the Secretary of State and provide for the issuance of appropriate commissions to the members within the same time and in the same manner as provided by law for registrars.
SECTION
7.
(a)
In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of any member of the board by
removal, death, resignation, or otherwise, except by expiration of term, the
applicable appointing authority shall appoint a successor for the remainder of
the unexpired term as provided for in Section 3 of this Act. The clerk of the
superior court shall be notified of such interim appointments and record and
certify such appointments in the same manner as the regular appointment of
members.
(b) Before entering upon his or her duties, each member of the board shall take substantially the same oath as required by law for registrars. Each member of the board shall have the same privileges from arrest as registrars.
(b) Before entering upon his or her duties, each member of the board shall take substantially the same oath as required by law for registrars. Each member of the board shall have the same privileges from arrest as registrars.
SECTION
8.
The
first members of the board under this Act shall be appointed as provided in this
Act to take office on July 1, 2007. The board shall take no official action
until all members have been certified to the clerk of the Superior Court of
Bacon County.
SECTION
9.
(a)
No person who holds elective public office shall be eligible to serve as member
of the board during the term of such elective office, and the position of any
member of the board shall be deemed vacant upon such member´s qualifying as
a candidate for elective public
office.
(b) Members of the board must be residents of Bacon County and must have been registered voters in Bacon County for a period of at least one year prior to the date of appointment to the board.
(b) Members of the board must be residents of Bacon County and must have been registered voters in Bacon County for a period of at least one year prior to the date of appointment to the board.
SECTION
10.
The
board shall have the authority to contract with any municipality or governmental
authority located within Bacon County for the holding by the board of any
primary or election to be conducted within such municipality or governmental
authority.
SECTION
11.
(a)
The board shall be authorized and empowered to organize itself, determine its
procedural rules and regulations, adopt bylaws, specify functions and duties of
its employees, and otherwise take such action as is appropriate to the
management of its affairs; provided, however, than no such action shall conflict
with state law.
(b) Action and decision by the board shall be by a majority of the members of the board.
(b) Action and decision by the board shall be by a majority of the members of the board.
SECTION
12.
(a)
The board shall fix and establish, by appropriate resolution entered on its
minutes, directives governing the execution of matters within its jurisdiction.
The board shall hold meetings at the county courthouse or at the place of
meeting of the commissioners. Any specially called meetings held pursuant to
the bylaws adopted by the board shall be held only after notification of the
time and place of the holding of such special meeting has been communicated in
writing to the election supervisor to provide public notice of the meeting as
required by law. All meetings of whatever kind of the board shall be conducted
pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 50 of the
O.C.G.A.
(b) The board shall maintain a written record of policy decisions amended to include additions or deletions. Such written records shall be available for the public to review pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A.
(b) The board shall maintain a written record of policy decisions amended to include additions or deletions. Such written records shall be available for the public to review pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A.
SECTION
13.
Compensation
for the members of the board shall be fixed by the board of commissioners, to be
payable from the general revenues of Bacon County.
SECTION
14.
(a)
The board may request additional clerical assistants as needed to efficiently
carry out the duties and functions of the board on either an independent
contract basis or as county employees entitled to all benefits as other county
employees, to be determined by the board of commissioners. The board of
commissioners shall be responsible for determining the pay and salary of all
clerical assistants of the board. Any such assistant shall be hired by the
board of commissioners, which will consider the recommendation of the board, and
such clerical assistants shall be at-will employees of the board of
commissioners.
(b) The board of commissioners shall provide suitable offices and equipment and funding sufficient to employ the staff and other employees as may be necessary.
(b) The board of commissioners shall provide suitable offices and equipment and funding sufficient to employ the staff and other employees as may be necessary.
SECTION
15.
The
board shall be responsible for the selection, appointment, and training of poll
workers.
SECTION
16.
The
board of commissioners of Bacon County shall cause, through its legal counsel,
this Act to be submitted for preclearance under Section 5 of the federal Voting
Rights Act of 1965, as amended, within 45 days after the date on which this Act
is approved by the Governor or otherwise become law without such
approval.
SECTION
17.
As
soon as practicable, the board of registrars of Bacon County shall deliver to
the board all equipment, supplies, materials, books, papers, records, and
facilities pertaining to such powers and duties and thereafter shall be relieved
of all powers and duties to which the board succeeds by the provisions of this
Act. Nothing contained in this Act is intended to prevent the appointment of
members of the board, hiring of an elections supervisor, hiring of clerical
staff, or any necessary training for the members of the board, the election
supervisor, and clerical assistants prior to July 1, 2007.
SECTION
18.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval for purposes of making initial appointments
to the board only. This Act shall become fully effective on July 1, 2007, or
upon receiving preclearance approval under Section 5 of the federal Voting
Rights Act of 1965, whichever occurs later.
SECTION
19.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.