HB2511 - 452R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2511

lieutenant governor; statutory changes

Sponsors: Representatives Knaperek, Pearce, Anderson, Farnsworth et al.

X	Committee on Judiciary
	Caucus and COW
	Third Read
	As Passed the House

HB 2511’s enactment is conditional on the amendment of the Arizona Constitution at the next regular general election by vote of the people to establish the office of lieutenant governor. Upon establishment of the office of the lieutenant governor, HB 2511 makes conforming statutory changes relating to nominating and electing the lieutenant governor.

History

Arizona does not currently have an office of lieutenant governor. If the office of governor becomes vacant, the Secretary of State succeeds the Governor into office as the head of the Executive and must appoint a new Secretary of State.

Currently there are 42 states that elect a lieutenant governor. Of these, 24 states provide for team elections for governor and lieutenant governor in the general election. In 1994, Arizona voters considered creating the office of lieutenant governor at the General Election (Proposition 100), but the measure failed.

Provisions

General

· Adds the office of lieutenant governor to the definition of statewide office.

· Adds the lieutenant governor to the list of officers who may be subject to impeachment.

· Authorizes the governor to appoint the lieutenant governor to serve until one may be elected. The appointment is subject to confirmation by both the houses of the Arizona Legislature.

· Provides for enactment to be conditional on the amendment of the Arizona Constitution at the next regular general election by vote of the people to establish the office of lieutenant governor.

Nominating procedures

· Requires candidates for party nomination to the offices of governor and lieutenant governor to file individual nomination papers for the primary election.

· Prohibits the Secretary of State from accepting a nomination paper from a candidate for party nomination to the office of governor or lieutenant governor if the candidate has previously filed a nomination paper for either office for the same election.

· Prohibits the Secretary of State from accepting nomination papers for the office of governor or lieutenant governor for both party nominations and write-in candidates unless the papers are filed together.

· Prohibits a person from filing a nomination paper to be a write-in candidate for the office of governor or lieutenant governor if the person previously filed a nomination paper to be a write-in candidate for either office for the same election.

· Requires a person desiring to become a candidate for governor or lieutenant governor to circulate and file a joint nomination petition in addition to the separate nomination papers filed by each candidate.

· Specifies the information that must be contained on the nomination petition for governor and lieutenant governor.

Filing vacancy for any reason

· Requires the state executive committee of the candidate’s political party to nominate and file a nominating petition for a new candidate if the candidate for governor or lieutenant governor fails to qualify for the primary election ballot for any reason.

· Mandates that if a vacancy occurs after the printing of the official primary election ballots, at least one person from the party must qualify for the office in which the vacancy occurred.

· Prohibits a party from nomination of joint candidates for the general election if a candidate fails to qualify for both the office of governor and lieutenant governor and specifies that no party may place a person for the general election ballot without joint candidates.

· Requires the nominee of the party for the joint candidacy to nominate a candidate to run for the vacant office of governor or lieutenant governor within five days if the vacancy occurs after the printing of the general election ballots.

Ballot procedures and notice to voters

· Requires that notice to voters be posted that a voter that wishes to vote for a write-in candidate for the office of governor must also write in that party’s write-in candidate for lieutenant governor, and vice versa in order to be counted in the tally of ballots.

· Makes conforming changes.

Powers and duties of lieutenant governor

· Requires the governor to name the lieutenant governor to head a state agency.

· Authorizes the governor to appoint the lieutenant governor as the governor’s representative on any board, agency, committee, council or commission of which the governor is a member.

· Authorizes the governor to designate any other special assignment to the lieutenant governor if the governor finds the assignment to be in the interests of Arizona.

· Makes the lieutenant governor eligible for reimbursement of expenses from any entity described above for necessary expenses incurred in the course of performing authorized business.

· Makes technical and conforming changes throughout.

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· 45th Legislature