HB5: HB5 Decatur County; board of commissioners; change district residency requirements for candidates

25 LC 47 3159/AP House Bill 5 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representative Campbell of the 171st A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend an Act relating to the board of commissioners of Decat ur County, approved1 March 4, 1935 (Ga. L. 1935, p. 630), as amende d, particularly b y an Act approved2 May 6, 2015 (Ga. L. 2015, p. 3718), so as to change the district residency requirements for3 candidates for the office of commissioner; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting4 laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 An Act relating to the board of commissioners of Decatur County, approved March 4, 19358 (Ga. L. 1935, p. 630), as amended, particularly by an Act appro ved May 6, 20159 (Ga. L. 2015, p. 3718), is amended by revising Section 2 as follows:10 "SECTION 2.11 All members of the board of commissioners shall not be less than 21 years of age and shall12 be qualified electors of Decatur County. Each of the commissio ners shall have been a13 resident of his or her respective commission district for at least 12 months prior to the date14 of taking office. In the event that any member ceases to be a resident of his or her15 H. B. 5 - 1 - 25 LC 47 3159/AP respective commission district during his or her term of office, a vacancy shall be created16 and shall be filled in the manner hereinafter provided. Each o f the members shall be17 elected by the qualified voters of Decatur County residing with in his or her respective18 commission district. In all elections conducted pursuant to this Act, each candidate shall19 designate, at the time of qualifying, the district from which he or she offers as a candidate. 20 To be elected as a member of the board, a candidate must receiv e the highest number of21 votes cast for the seat he or she is seeking; and, at the same time, a candidate must receive22 a majority of the total votes cast for the election of a commis sioner to that seat. In the23 event no candidate for a particular seat receives a majority of the votes for the seat he or24 she is seeking, a run-off election shall be conducted for that particular seat. All members25 shall be nominated and elected in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 2126 of the O.C.G.A., the 'Georgia Election Code,' as now or hereafter amended."27 SECTION 2.28 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.29 H. B. 5 - 2 -