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

SCR 1006 puts before the voters proposed increases in the term limits for members of the State Legislature.

History

Current law prescribes term limits for state legislators, beginning with the January 1, 1993 term of office. The terms of office are limited to four consecutive two-year terms. Upon serving the final term of office, a legislator may not serve again in that same office until the legislator has been out of office for at least one full term.

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.

SCR 1006 was amended in the Retirement and Government Operations Committee as follows:

· Clarifies that the terms of office for Senators and Representatives through the 46th Legislature will be limited to two years.

· States that members of the Legislature, beginning with the 47^th Legislature in 2005, shall serve a four-year term, followed by a second four-year term, followed by a two-year term and is to be repeated for each subsequent 10-year period.

· States that beginning with the 47^th Legislature in 2005, members of the Legislature may not serve more than three consecutive terms in that office.

· Restricts a member of the Legislature whose first term began in January, 1999 and who has served three consecutive terms in the same chamber to one additional consecutive term beginning in January, 2005. The fourth consecutive term shall be a four-year term and the member is not eligible for a fifth consecutive term in that chamber.

· Restricts a member of the Legislature whose first term began in January, 2001 and who has served two consecutive terms in the same chamber to two additional consecutive terms beginning in January, 2005 and January, 2009. The third and fourth consecutive terms shall be four–year terms and the member is not eligible for a fifth consecutive term in that chamber.

· Restricts a member that has served one term without prior consecutive service and whose first term of office in a chamber of the Legislature began in January 2003 to three additional consecutive terms in that chamber beginning in January 2005, January 2009, and January 2013. The terms of office shall be four years, four years, and two years, respectively.

· Makes technical and conforming changes.

The Retirement and Government Operations Committee amendment was adopted in the Committee of the Whole.

SCR 1006 passed the House of Representatives on reconsideration.

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45th Legislature