HB1359: HB1359 Brooks County; board of elections and registration; expand to five members

26 LC 47 3912/AP House Bill 1359 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representative LaHood of the 175th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Brooks County, approved1 April 20, 2011 (Ga. L. 2011, p. 3703), so as to expand the board to five members; to provide2 for a quorum of the board; to revise the manner in which members of the board are appointed3 by the governing authority of the county; to make conforming ch anges regarding filling4 vacancies on the board; to provide that the elections superviso r and employees of such5 supervisor shall be subject to hiring, firing, and the control of the board of elections; to6 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 An Act to create a board of elections and registration for Brooks County, approved April 20,10 2011 (Ga. L. 2011, p. 3703), is amended by revising subsections (a) and (b) of Section 3 as11 follows:12 "(a)(1) Those members of the board serving on the effective date of this Act shall have13 their terms expire on December 31, 2026. As of January 1, 2027 , the board shall be14 composed of five members, each of whom shall be an elector of the county and who shall15 H. B. 1359 - 1 - 26 LC 47 3912/AP be appointed as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection. Three members of the16 board shall constitute a quorum of said board.17 (2) Each member of the Brooks County Board of Commissioners sh all appoint one18 member of the board of elections, with such appointment being s ubject to approval by19 majority vote of the board of commissioners.20 (b) The initial members of the board appointed pursuant to this Act shall serve for terms21 of office beginning January 1, 2027. The board of commissioners shall designate two of22 the initial members to serve for a term ending on December 31, 2029, and three of the23 initial members to serve for a term ending on December 31, 2031, and until their successors24 are duly appointed and qualified. Upon the expiration of each initial term all subsequent25 terms shall be for a four-year period."26 SECTION 2.27 Said Act is further amended by revising Section 6 as follows:28 "SECTION 6.29 In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of any member of the board by removal, death,30 resignation, or otherwise, the commissioners shall appoint a su ccessor, using the same31 manner as was used to appoint the person vacating the board, fo r the remainder of the32 unexpired term. The clerk of the superior court shall be notified of interim appointments33 and record and certify such appointments in the same manner as the regular appointment34 of members."35 SECTION 3.36 Said Act is further amended by revising Sections 11 and 12 as follows:37 H. B. 1359 - 2 - 26 LC 47 3912/AP "SECTION 11.38 The board of elections shall be authorized to appoint an elections supervisor to generally39 supervise, direct, and control the administration of the affairs of the board pursuant to law40 and duly adopted resolutions of the board. The elections supervisor shall not be eligible41 to serve as a member of the board. The elections supervisor shall be considered a county42 employee for purposes of pay, benefits, sick leave, vacation, a nd other administrative43 purposes in accordance with policies adopted by the governing a uthority, but such44 supervisor shall be subject to hiring, direction, evaluation, c orrective action, and45 termination by the board of elections.46 SECTION 12.47 The elections supervisor shall be authorized to employ such emp loyees, including poll48 workers, as may be deemed necessary by the elections supervisor and as are approved in49 the annual budget adopted by the governing authority of the county. All such employees50 shall be considered county employees for purposes of pay, benefits, sick leave, vacation,51 and other administrative purposes in accordance with policies a dopted by the governing52 authority, but such employees shall be subject to hiring, direction, evaluation, corrective53 action, and termination by the elections supervisor."54 SECTION 4.55 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.56 H. B. 1359 - 3 -