Bill Text: GA SB531 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia; provide nonpartisan elections for judge
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-27 - House Second Readers [SB531 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB531-Engrossed.html
12 LC 28
6234
Senate
Bill 531
By:
Senator McKoon of the 29th
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend an Act establishing the Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia, approved
August 12, 1915 (Ga. L. 1915, p. 63), as amended,
particularly by an Act approved March 29, 1983 (Ga. L. 1983,
p. 4443), so as to provide that future elections for the judge of such
court shall be nonpartisan elections; to provide for submission of this Act for
preclearance under Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as
amended; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
An
Act establishing the Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia, approved
August 12, 1915 (Ga. L. 1915, p. 63), as amended,
particularly by an Act approved March 29, 1983 (Ga. L. 1983,
p. 4443), is amended by revising Section 5 by adding a new subsection to
read as follows:
"(c)
All elections for the office of judge of such court conducted after July 1,
2012, shall be nonpartisan elections as provided for in Code Section 21-2-139 of
the O.C.G.A. Such nonpartisan elections shall be held in conjunction with the
nonpartisan general election immediately preceding expiration of the term of
office and conducted as provided in Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., the
'Georgia Election Code.'"
SECTION
2.
Nothing
in this Act shall affect the term of office of the judge of the Municipal Court
of Columbus, Georgia in office on July 1, 2012. The sitting judge shall serve
out the term of office for which he or she was elected and shall be eligible to
succeed himself or herself as provided in this Act.
SECTION
3.
The
governing authority of Columbus, Georgia shall through its legal counsel cause
this Act to be submitted for preclearance under the federal Voting Rights Act of
1965, as amended, no later than 45 days after the date on which this Act is
approved by the Governor or otherwise becomes law without such
approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.