SCR1006 - 451R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

SCR 1006

legislative terms; senate; limits

Sponsors: Senator Nichols, Representatives Brotherton, Foster, et al.

DPA	Committee on Judiciary
X	Committee on Retirement & Government Operations
	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

SCR 1006 puts an amendment to the Arizona Constitution before the voters regarding term limits for members of the State Legislature.

History

In 1992, Arizona voters approved Proposition 107. The initiative measure limited state legislators to four consecutive two-year terms.

Provisions

· Increases the length of terms for State Senators from two to four years beginning in 2003.

· Changes the number of consecutive terms that members of the State Legislature may serve on or after January 1, 2003 as follows:

1. Limits State Senators to three consecutive four-year terms.

2. Limits State Representatives to six consecutive two-year terms.

· Specifies that the changes in the term limitations apply on and after January 1, 2003.

· Stipulates that a current member of the legislature whose first term of office in one chamber began in January 1995 and who has served two or more consecutive terms in that chamber may not run for another consecutive term of service in that chamber.

Current Members of the House of Representatives

1. A State Representative whose first term of office began in January 1997 and who has served three consecutive terms may serve one additional consecutive term as a State Representative to begin in January 2003.

2. A State Representative whose first term of office began in January 1999 and who has served two consecutive terms may serve two additional consecutive terms as a State Representative to begin in January 2003 and January 2005, respectively.

3. A State Representative whose first term of office began in January 2001 without prior consecutive service in the House of Representatives may serve three additional consecutive terms as a State Representative to begin in January 2003, January 2005 and January 2007, respectively.

Current Members of the State Senate

1. A State Senator whose first term of office began in January 1997, and who has served three consecutive terms may serve one additional consecutive four-year term in the State Senate to begin in January 2003.

2. A State Senator whose first term of office began in January 1999, and who has served two consecutive terms may serve one additional consecutive four-year term in the State Senate to begin in January 2003.

3. A State Senator whose first term of office began in January 2001 without prior consecutive service in the State Senate may serve two additional consecutive four-year terms in the State Senate to begin in January 2003 and January 2007, respectively, and shall each be for a term of four years.

· Requires the Secretary of State to submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election.

· Makes technical and conforming changes.

SCR 1006 was amended in the Judiciary Committee as follows:

· Provides that beginning with the Forty-sixth Legislature in 2003, the length of term for each State Senator will be based on whether the district represented is an even-numbered or odd-numbered district as follows:

1. The term of office for a State Senator who represents an even-numbered district shall be a two-year term, followed by a four-year term, followed by a second four-year term.

2. The term of office for a State Senator who represents an odd-numbered district shall be a four-year term, followed by a two-year term, followed by a second four-year term.

· Provides that the pattern for length of terms for a State Senator shall be repeated for each subsequent ten-year period.

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45th Legislature