Georgia-2011-HR33-Introduced

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to provide that the re-creation of a previously existing county which was merged into another county may be accomplished by law, subject to the approval of the voters therein and subject to certain conditions; to provide for the status and effect of the implementing law; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

Article IX, Section I of the Constitution is amended by revising Paragraph II as follows:

"Paragraph II. Number of counties limited; county boundaries and county sites; county consolidation. (a) There shall not be more than 159 counties in this state.

(b) The metes and bounds of the several counties and the county sites shall remain as prescribed by law on June 30, 1983, unless changed under the operation of a general law.

(c) The General Assembly may provide by law for the consolidation of two or more counties into one or the division of a county and the merger of portions thereof into other counties under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe; but no such consolidation, division, or merger shall become effective unless approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each of the counties proposed to be consolidated, divided, or merged.

(d)(1) Subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Paragraph shall not apply with respect to the re-creation of a county which was previously merged with and made a part of another county; and such a re-creation of a previously existing county may be accomplished by law notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Paragraph or any other provision of this Constitution. The boundaries of the re-created county may be the same as those in effect immediately prior to the previous merger or may be generally similar but not identical as determined in the discretion of the General Assembly in the Act re-creating the county. The law re-creating the county shall contain a definite description of boundaries of the county; may provide transitional provisions for the transfer over time of powers, functions, facilities, and assets and obligations to the county; shall have the force and effect of general law notwithstanding its territorial application; and shall not be preempted by any other general law. The law re-creating the county and any amendments thereto:

(A) Shall not be subject to the multiple subject matter prohibition of Article III, Section V, Paragraph III to the extent that such law and amendments may make provisions for the re-created county and for associated governmental entities and may also make provisions for any other county whose territorial limits are affected and for governmental entities associated with such other county or counties;

(B) Shall not be subject to the population Act prohibition of Article III, Section VI, Paragraph IV(b) to the extent that such law and amendments may provide for the application or nonapplication of previously existing population Acts to:

(i) The re-created county and associated governmental entities;

(ii) Any other county or counties whose territorial limits are affected and governmental entities associated with such other county or counties; or

(iii) Neither or both of the foregoing; and

(C) Shall not be subject to the provisions of Article XI, Section I, Paragraph IV to the extent that such law and amendments may provide for the application or nonapplication of previously existing local constitutional amendments to:

(i) The re-created county and associated governmental entities;

(ii) Any other county or counties whose territorial limits are affected and governmental entities associated with such other county or counties; or

(iii) Neither or both of the foregoing.

(2) The re-creation shall not become effective unless approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in the area of the county to be re-created, as defined in the Act re-creating the county.

(3) The superior court of a county re-created under this subparagraph (d) shall be included in the same judicial circuit as the county which previously included the greatest part of the territory of the re-created county, unless otherwise provided by law.

(4) The territory within the re-created county shall constitute a new county school district and shall be removed from any other local school district in the manner to be provided by law."

The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:

All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes." All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.