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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Ortiz y Pino
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/24/08
2/11/08 HB
SHORT TITLE Lt. Governor Vacancy Appointment
SJR 8/aSRC
ANALYST Padilla
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of SRC Amendment
Senate Rules Committee Amendment to Senate Joint Resolution provides that 2/3 of the Senate
only
need to ratify the appointment of the Lieutenant Governor, not both Houses of the
Legislature, as previously written.
Synopsis of Original Bill
Senate Joint Resolution 8 proposes an amendment to Article 5 of the Constitution of New
Mexico to provide that, in the case of a vacancy in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the
Governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment with the consent of both Houses of the
Legislature.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The bill proposes resolution by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico to amend Article 5 of
the Constitution of New Mexico as follows:
Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 5 of the Constitution of New Mexico by
adding a new section to read:
“Whenever there is a vacancy in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the
Governor shall nominate a Lieutenant Governor who shall take office upon
confirmation by a majority vote of all members elected to each of the two Houses
of the Legislature voting separately and shall serve the remainder of the unexpired
term."
The bill also asserts in Section 2. as follows:
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.