HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 8

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Trujillo and Daniel A. Ivey-Soto

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 20, SECTION 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO PERMIT THE ADJUSTMENT BY LAW OF TERMS OF NON-STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICERS AND TO STANDARDIZE THE DATE AN OFFICER BEGINS TO SERVE.

 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 20, Section 3 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

          "A. The term of office of every state, county or district officer, except [those elected at the first election held under this constitution, and] those elected to fill vacancies, shall commence on the first day of January next after [his] the officer's election.

          B. A state, county or district officer elected to fill a vacancy in office shall take office on the first day of January next after the officer's election to serve the remainder of the unexpired term for that office.

          C. The term of a state, county or district officer may be adjusted by law to align or stagger the election of officers for a particular state, county or district office throughout the state. Any such adjustment shall require a legislative finding that the adjustment is to provide for consistency in the timing of elections for that office or to balance the number of offices appearing on the ballot. The term of any officer affected by such adjustment shall not be shortened or extended by more than two years. A shortened or extended term shall be counted as one term for the purposes of any limitation on the number of terms an officer may serve. No statewide elective office may be adjusted pursuant to this subsection."

     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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