House Joint Resolution M

Sponsor: Rep. Valde Garcia

Committee: Constitutional Law and Ethics

Complete to 8-23-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION M AS INTRODUCED 1-19-00

The joint resolution would amend the state constitution by allowing state representatives, after January 1, 2001, to serve one four-year term of office if reelected, and, after January 1, 2001, would allow state representatives to serve for four terms instead of the current two terms (unless a representative had served a four-year term of office).

More specifically, the joint resolution would amend Article IV, Section 3, to strike the current provision that members of the House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms, and instead say that through terms of office beginning before January 1, 2002, terms of office would be for two years. For terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2002, terms of office would be for two years except in the case where a member of the House of Representatives were elected to serve in the immediately succeeding term of office, in which case that term of office would be four years. The joint resolution would limit a member of the House to no more than one four-year term, and if a member of the House filed to run for the Senate or any other state elective office, the filing would constitute a resignation of office effective on the last day of session in that calendar year.

The joint resolution also would amend Section 54 of Article IV to say that for terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2001, no one could be elected to the office of state representative more than four times (instead of the current limit of three times), unless that person had served a four-year term of office, in which case he or she could be elected nor more than three times. The joint resolution also would modify the current three term limitation on House members to say that the three term limit would apply to terms of office beginning before January 1, 2001.

The joint resolution would be submitted to a vote of the people of the state at the next general election.

Analyst: S. Ekstrom

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.