HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION M

 

March 1, 2011, Introduced by Rep. Hammel and referred to the Committee on Redistricting and Elections.

 

     A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state

 

constitution of 1963, by amending section 13 of article V, to

 

require the governor to fill certain vacancies in the office of

 

state senator or state representative by appointment.

 

     Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

 

state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state

 

constitution of 1963, to require the governor to fill certain

 

vacancies in the office of state senator or state representative by

 

appointment, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of

 

the state:

 

ARTICLE V

 

     Sec. 13. (1) The governor shall issue writs of election to


 

fill vacancies in the senate or house of representatives. Any such

 

election shall be held in a manner prescribed by law. If a vacancy

 

occurs in the office of state senator or state representative less

 

than one year before the end of the officer's term of office, the

 

governor shall immediately give notice of the vacancy to the

 

chairperson of the county committee of the political party of the

 

individual who vacated the office.

 

     (2) The county committee of the political party of the

 

individual who vacated the office shall, within thirty days of

 

receiving notice from the governor concerning the vacancy, nominate

 

three interested individuals for the position and submit the list

 

of nominees to the governor.

 

     (3) The governor shall, within thirty days of receiving a list

 

of nominees from the county committee under subsection (2), appoint

 

one of the nominees to serve the remainder of that term.

 

     (4) Prior to taking the oath of office, an individual

 

appointed under this section shall sign an affidavit that he or she

 

shall not be a candidate for that office at the next general

 

election at which an election for that office is held.

 

     Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be

 

submitted to the people of the state at the next general election

 

in the manner provided by law.