Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect SB0203S02.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

Second Substitute S.B. 203

Senator Howard A. Stephenson proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
VACANCIES IN COUNTY ELECTED OFFICES

             2     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson

             5     
House Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Election Code by amending and enacting provisions to fill a
             10      vacancy in the membership of a county legislative body of a first, second, or third class
             11      county.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides that in the case of a vacancy in a county legislative body in a county of the
             15      first, second, or third class, the county central committee of the party to which the
             16      vacating office holder belongs submits one nominee instead of three to the county
             17      legislative body;
             18          .    provides time frames for the county legislative body to fill the vacancy with the
             19      nominee submitted by the county central committee; and
             20          .    makes technical changes.
             21      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             26      AMENDS:
             27          17-35b-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 133
             28          17-35b-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
             29          17-52-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 131
             30          17-53-104, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 133
             31          20A-1-508, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 39
             32      ENACTS:
             33          20A-1-508.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34     
             35      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             36          Section 1. Section 17-35b-301 is amended to read:
             37           17-35b-301. "General county (modified)" structural form of county government.
             38          (1) The structural form of county government known as the "general county
             39      (modified)" form retains, without change or modification, except to the extent that changes or
             40      modifications may be effectuated under other proceedings authorized by law, all existing
             41      incorporated cities and towns, special taxing districts, public authorities, county service areas,
             42      and other local public entities functioning within the boundaries of the county. Under this form
             43      of government, the county remains vested with all powers and duties vested in counties by
             44      general law, but the county legislative body, together with such other officers as may be
             45      specified in the optional plan, shall be elected or appointed in the manner authorized by this act
             46      and as provided in the optional plan.
             47          (2) An optional plan for this form of county government shall provide for the election
             48      of a county council, composed of not less than three members, which shall be the county
             49      legislative body and shall exercise all legislative powers authorized by law. The plan shall
             50      specify:
             51          (a) whether the members of the council are to be elected from districts, at large, or by a
             52      combination of district and at-large constituencies;
             53          (b) their qualifications and terms of office, and whether such terms are concurrent or
             54      overlapping;
             55          (c) grounds for and methods of removal of council members from office;
             56          (d) procedures for filling vacancies on the council, provided that the procedures shall


             57      conform with Section 20A-1-508 or 20A-1-508.1 ; and
             58          (e) the compensation, if any, of council members together with procedures for
             59      prescribing and changing such compensation from time to time.
             60          Section 2. Section 17-35b-302 is amended to read:
             61           17-35b-302. Urban county structural form of county government.
             62          (1) The structural form of county government known as the "urban county" form
             63      retains, without change or modification, except to the extent that changes or modifications may
             64      be effectuated under other proceedings authorized by law, all existing incorporated cities and
             65      towns, special taxing districts, public authorities, service areas, and other local public entities
             66      functioning within the boundaries of the county. Under this form of government, the county
             67      remains vested with all powers and duties vested in counties by general law, but in addition is
             68      vested with and empowered to exercise within the unincorporated territory of the county all
             69      powers and duties which, by general law, are conferred upon cities whose population is equal
             70      to that of the unincorporated territory of such county.
             71          (2) The urban county is empowered to enter into contractual arrangements for the joint
             72      exercise of powers or for performance of services and, for that purpose, may employ and be
             73      subject to the provisions of Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act. By contract, the
             74      urban county may perform for any city, town, special taxing district, public authority, service
             75      area, or other local public entity within the county any governmental service or function which
             76      such entity is lawfully empowered to perform for itself within its own territory, or which the
             77      county is lawfully empowered to perform anywhere within the county boundaries. No contract
             78      service or function shall be performed by the county except for a consideration which is at least
             79      substantially equal to the cost of performing it.
             80          (3) The plan for an urban county form of county government may provide for
             81      organization of the unincorporated territory of the county into one or more service areas and,
             82      for this purpose, may provide for special organizing or implementing procedures which differ
             83      from those provided in Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 9, Service Area Act. Except to the extent
             84      that the plan provides to the contrary, all noncontract services and functions lawfully performed
             85      by the county solely within unincorporated territory and not on a countywide basis shall, after
             86      the effective date of the plan, be considered performed and extended solely as services of, and
             87      financed by and through, the county service area. The plan may provide for, limit, or condition


             88      the services and functions which the urban county is authorized to perform and extend within
             89      the territory of incorporated cities and towns within the county and may provide procedures by
             90      which such provisions, limits, or conditions may be established and changed from time to time.
             91          (4) The plan for the urban county shall provide for the election of a county council,
             92      composed of not less than three members. The council shall be the county legislative body and
             93      shall exercise all legislative powers authorized by law. The plan shall specify:
             94          (a) whether the members of the council are to be elected from districts, at large, or by a
             95      combination of district and at-large constituencies;
             96          (b) their qualifications and terms of office, and whether such terms are concurrent or
             97      overlapping;
             98          (c) grounds for and methods for removal of council members from office;
             99          (d) procedures for filling vacancies on the council, provided that the procedures shall
             100      conform with Section 20A-1-508 or 20A-1-508.1 ; and
             101          (e) the compensation, if any, of council members together with procedures for
             102      prescribing and changing such compensation from time to time.
             103          Section 3. Section 17-52-401 is amended to read:
             104           17-52-401. Contents of proposed optional plan.
             105          (1) Each optional plan proposed under this chapter:
             106          (a) shall propose the adoption of one of the forms of county government listed in
             107      Subsection 17-52-402 (1)(a);
             108          (b) shall contain detailed provisions relating to the transition from the existing form of
             109      county government to the form proposed in the optional plan, including provisions relating to
             110      the:
             111          (i) election or appointment of officers specified in the optional plan for the new form of
             112      county government;
             113          (ii) retention, elimination, or combining of existing offices and, if an office is
             114      eliminated, the division or department of county government responsible for performing the
             115      duties of the eliminated office;
             116          (iii) continuity of existing ordinances and regulations;
             117          (iv) continuation of pending legislative, administrative, or judicial proceedings;
             118          (v) making of interim and temporary appointments; and


             119          (vi) preparation, approval, and adjustment of necessary budget appropriations;
             120          (c) shall specify the date it is to become effective if adopted, which shall not be earlier
             121      than the first day of January next following the election of officers under the new plan; and
             122          (d) notwithstanding any other provision of this title and except with respect to an
             123      optional plan that proposes the adoption of the county commission or expanded county
             124      commission form of government, with respect to the county budget:
             125          (i) may provide that the county auditor's role is to be the budget officer, to project
             126      county revenues, and to prepare a tentative budget to present to the county executive; and
             127          (ii) shall provide that the county executive's role is to prepare and present a proposed
             128      budget to the county legislative body, and the county legislative body's role is to adopt a final
             129      budget.
             130          (2) Subject to Subsection (3), an optional plan may include provisions that are
             131      considered necessary or advisable to the effective operation of the proposed optional plan.
             132          (3) An optional plan may not include any provision that is inconsistent with or
             133      prohibited by the Utah Constitution or any statute.
             134          (4) Each optional plan proposing to change the form of government to a form under
             135      Section 17-52-504 or 17-52-505 shall:
             136          (a) provide for the same executive and legislative officers as are specified in the
             137      applicable section for the form of government being proposed by the optional plan;
             138          (b) provide for the election of the county council;
             139          (c) specify the number of county council members, which shall be an odd number from
             140      three to nine;
             141          (d) specify whether the members of the county council are to be elected from districts,
             142      at large, or by a combination of at large and by district;
             143          (e) specify county council members' qualifications and terms and whether the terms are
             144      to be staggered;
             145          (f) contain procedures for filling vacancies on the county council, consistent with the
             146      provisions of Section 20A-1-508 or 20A-1-508.1 ; and
             147          (g) state the initial compensation, if any, of county council members and procedures for
             148      prescribing and changing compensation.
             149          (5) Each optional plan proposing to change the form of government to the county


             150      commission form under Section 17-52-501 or the expanded county commission form under
             151      Section 17-52-502 shall specify:
             152          (a) (i) for the county commission form of government, that the county commission
             153      shall have three members; or
             154          (ii) for the expanded county commission form of government, whether the county
             155      commission shall have five or seven members;
             156          (b) the terms of office for county commission members and whether the terms are to be
             157      staggered;
             158          (c) whether members of the county commission are to be elected from districts, at
             159      large, or by a combination of at large and from districts; and
             160          (d) if any members of the county commission are to be elected from districts, the
             161      district residency requirements for those commission members.
             162          Section 4. Section 17-53-104 is amended to read:
             163           17-53-104. Vacancy in a county office -- Vacancies in the office of county attorney
             164      or district attorney.
             165          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a vacancy in a county office shall be filled as
             166      provided in Section 20A-1-508 or 20A-1-508.1 .
             167          (2) A vacancy in the office of county attorney or district attorney shall be filled as
             168      provided in Sections 20A-1-509.1 , 20A-1-509.2 , and 20A-1-509.3 .
             169          Section 5. Section 20A-1-508 is amended to read:
             170           20A-1-508. Midterm vacancies in county elected offices.
             171          (1) As used in this section:
             172          (a) "County offices" includes the county executive, members of the county legislative
             173      body, the county treasurer, the county sheriff, the county clerk, the county auditor, the county
             174      recorder, the county surveyor, and the county assessor.
             175          (b) "County offices" does not mean:
             176          (i) a position as a member of the county legislative body of a county of the first,
             177      second, or third class; or
             178          (ii) the offices of president and vice president of the United States, United States
             179      senators and representatives, members of the Utah Legislature, state constitutional officers,
             180      county attorneys, district attorneys, and judges.


             181          (2) (a) Until a replacement is [selected] elected as provided in this section and has
             182      qualified, the county legislative body shall appoint an interim replacement to fill the vacant
             183      office by following the procedures and requirements of this Subsection (2).
             184          (b) (i) To appoint an interim replacement, the county legislative body shall give notice
             185      of the vacancy to the county central committee of the same political party of the prior office
             186      holder and invite that committee to submit the names of three nominees to fill the vacancy.
             187          (ii) [That] The county central committee described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) shall, within
             188      30 days, submit the names of three nominees for the interim replacement to the county
             189      legislative body.
             190          (iii) The county legislative body shall, within 45 days after the vacancy occurs, appoint
             191      one of those nominees to serve out the unexpired term.
             192          (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint an interim replacement to fill the
             193      vacancy within 45 days, the county clerk shall send to the governor a letter that:
             194          (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a
             195      replacement within the statutory time period; and
             196          (B) contains the list of nominees submitted by the party central committee.
             197          (ii) The governor shall appoint an interim replacement from that list of nominees to fill
             198      the vacancy within 30 days after receipt of the letter.
             199          (d) A person appointed as interim replacement under this Subsection (2) shall hold
             200      office until [their] the person's successor is elected and has qualified.
             201          (3) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (3) apply to all county offices that become
             202      vacant if:
             203          (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             204          (ii) the vacancy occurs after the election at which the [person] office holder was elected
             205      but before April 10 of the next even-numbered year.
             206          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (3)(a) are met, the county clerk
             207      shall notify the public and each registered political party that the vacancy exists.
             208          (ii) [All persons] A person intending to become [candidates] a candidate for the vacant
             209      office shall:
             210          (A) file a declaration of candidacy according to the procedures and requirements of
             211      Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy; and


             212          (B) if nominated as a party candidate under Chapter 8, Political Party Formation and
             213      Procedures or qualified as an [independent] unaffiliated candidate or write-in candidate under
             214      Chapter [8, Political Party Formation and Procedures] 9, Candidate Qualifications and
             215      Nominating Procedures, run in the regular general election.
             216          (4) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (4) apply to all county offices that become
             217      vacant if:
             218          (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             219          (ii) the vacancy occurs after April 9 of the next even-numbered year but more than 50
             220      days before the regular primary election.
             221          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (4)(a) are met, the county clerk
             222      shall notify the public and each registered political party that:
             223          (A) the vacancy exists; and
             224          (B) identifies the date and time by which a person interested in becoming a candidate
             225      [must] shall file a declaration of candidacy.
             226          (ii) All persons intending to become candidates for the vacant offices shall, within five
             227      days after the date that the notice is made, ending at 5 p.m. on the fifth day, file a declaration of
             228      candidacy for the vacant office as required by Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and
             229      Declarations of Candidacy.
             230          (iii) The county central committee of each party shall:
             231          (A) select a candidate or candidates from among those qualified candidates who have
             232      filed declarations of candidacy; and
             233          (B) certify the name of the candidate or candidates to the county clerk at least 35 days
             234      before the regular primary election.
             235          (5) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (5) apply to all county offices that become
             236      vacant:
             237          (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             238          (ii) when 50 days or less remain before the regular primary election but more than 50
             239      days remain before the regular general election.
             240          (b) When the conditions established in Subsection (5)(a) are met, the county central
             241      committees of each political party registered under this title that wishes to submit a candidate
             242      for the vacant office shall summarily certify the name of one candidate to the county clerk for


             243      placement on the regular general election ballot.
             244          (6) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (6) apply to all county offices that become
             245      vacant:
             246          (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of less than two years; or
             247          (ii) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more but 50 days or less
             248      remain before the next regular general election.
             249          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (6)(a) are met, the county
             250      legislative body shall give notice of the vacancy to the county central committee of the same
             251      political party as the prior office holder and invite that committee to submit the names of three
             252      nominees to fill the vacancy.
             253          (ii) [That] The county central committee described in Subsection (6)(b)(i) shall, within
             254      30 days, submit the names of three nominees to fill the vacancy to the county legislative body.
             255          (iii) The county legislative body shall, within 45 days after the vacancy occurs, appoint
             256      one of those nominees to serve out the unexpired term.
             257          (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint a person to fill the vacancy within
             258      45 days, the county clerk shall send to the governor a letter that:
             259          (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a person
             260      to fill the vacancy within the statutory time period; and
             261          (B) contains the list of nominees submitted by the party central committee.
             262          (ii) The governor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy from that list of nominees to
             263      fill the vacancy within 30 days after receipt of the letter.
             264          (d) A person appointed to fill the vacancy under this Subsection (6) shall hold office
             265      until [their] the person's successor is elected and has qualified.
             266          (7) Except as otherwise provided by law, the county legislative body may appoint
             267      replacements to fill all vacancies that occur in those offices filled by appointment of the county
             268      legislative body.
             269          (8) Nothing in this section prevents or prohibits [independent candidates] an
             270      unaffiliated candidate from filing a declaration of candidacy for the office within the same time
             271      limits.
             272          (9) (a) Each person elected under Subsection (3), (4), or (5) to fill a vacancy in a
             273      county office shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of the [person who created the


             274      vacancy] office holder who vacated the office and until a successor is elected and qualified.
             275          (b) Nothing in this section may be construed to contradict or alter the provisions of
             276      Section 17-16-6 .
             277          Section 6. Section 20A-1-508.1 is enacted to read:
             278          20A-1-508.1. Midterm vacancies in county legislative bodies in counties of the
             279      first, second, and third class.
             280          (1) As used in this section "vacant office" means a position that is vacated by an office
             281      holder of a county legislative body of a county of the first, second, or third class.
             282          (2) (a) Until a replacement is elected as provided in this section and has qualified, the
             283      county legislative body shall appoint an interim replacement to fill the vacant office by
             284      following the procedures and requirements of this Subsection (2).
             285          (b) (i) To appoint an interim replacement, the county legislative body shall give notice
             286      of the vacant office to the county central committee of the same political party of the prior
             287      office holder and invite that committee to submit the name of a nominee to fill the vacant
             288      office.
             289          (ii) The county central committee described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) shall, within 30
             290      days, submit the name of the nominee for the interim replacement to the county legislative
             291      body.
             292          (iii) The county legislative body shall, at the next regular meeting of the county
             293      legislative body, appoint the person whose name was submitted by the county central
             294      committee to serve out the unexpired term.
             295          (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint an interim replacement to fill the
             296      vacant office as provided under Subsection (2)(b), the county clerk shall send to the governor a
             297      letter that:
             298          (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a
             299      replacement within the statutory time period; and
             300          (B) contains the name of the nominee submitted by the county central committee.
             301          (ii) The governor shall appoint the nominee as an interim replacement to fill the vacant
             302      office within 30 days after receipt of the letter.
             303          (d) A person appointed as interim replacement under this Subsection (2) shall hold
             304      office until the person's successor is elected and has qualified.


             305          (3) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (3) apply to a vacant office that becomes
             306      vacant if:
             307          (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             308          (ii) the vacant office occurs after the election at which the office holder was elected but
             309      before April 10 of the next even-numbered year.
             310          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (3)(a) are met, the county clerk
             311      shall notify the public and each registered political party that the vacant office exists.
             312          (ii) A person intending to become a candidate for the vacant office shall:
             313          (A) file a declaration of candidacy according to the procedures and requirements of
             314      Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy; and
             315          (B) if nominated as a party candidate under Chapter 8, Political Party Formation and
             316      Procedures, or qualified as an unaffiliated candidate or write-in candidate under Chapter 9,
             317      Candidate Qualifications and Nominating Procedures, run in the regular general election.
             318          (4) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (4) apply to a vacant office that becomes
             319      vacant if:
             320          (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             321          (ii) the vacant office occurs after April 9 of the next even-numbered year but more than
             322      50 days before the regular primary election.
             323          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (4)(a) are met, the county clerk
             324      shall notify the public and each registered political party that:
             325          (A) the vacant office exists; and
             326          (B) identifies the date and time by which a person interested in becoming a candidate
             327      shall file a declaration of candidacy.
             328          (ii) A person intending to become a candidate for the vacant office shall, within five
             329      days after the date that the notice is made, ending at 5 p.m. on the fifth day, file a declaration of
             330      candidacy for the vacant office as required by Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and
             331      Declarations of Candidacy.
             332          (iii) The county central committee of each party shall:
             333          (A) select a candidate or candidates from among those qualified candidates who have
             334      filed declarations of candidacy; and
             335          (B) certify the name of the candidate or candidates to the county clerk at least 35 days


             336      before the regular primary election.
             337          (5) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (5) apply to a vacant office that becomes
             338      vacant:
             339          (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             340          (ii) when 50 days or less remain before the regular primary election but more than 50
             341      days remain before the regular general election.
             342          (b) When the conditions established in Subsection (5)(a) are met, the county central
             343      committees of each political party registered under this title that wishes to submit a candidate
             344      for the vacant office shall summarily certify the name of one candidate to the county clerk for
             345      placement on the regular general election ballot.
             346          (6) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (6) apply to a vacant office that becomes
             347      vacant:
             348          (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of less than two years; or
             349          (ii) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more but 50 days or less
             350      remain before the next regular general election.
             351          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (6)(a) are met, the county
             352      legislative body shall give notice of the vacant office to the county central committee of the
             353      same political party as the prior office holder and invite that committee to submit the name of a
             354      nominee to fill the vacant office.
             355          (ii) The county central committee described in Subsection (6)(b)(i) shall, within 30
             356      days, submit the name of the nominee to fill the vacant office to the county legislative body.
             357          (iii) The county legislative body shall, at the next regular meeting of the county
             358      legislative body, appoint the person whose name was submitted by the county central
             359      committee to serve out the unexpired term.
             360          (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint a person to fill the vacant office as
             361      provided under Subsection (6)(b), the county clerk shall send to the governor a letter that:
             362          (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a person
             363      to fill the vacant office within the statutory time period; and
             364          (B) contains the name of the nominee submitted by the county central committee.
             365          (ii) The governor shall appoint the nominee to fill the vacant office within 30 days after
             366      receipt of the letter.


             367          (d) A person appointed to fill the vacant office under this Subsection (6) shall hold
             368      office until the person's successor is elected and has qualified.
             369          (7) Except as otherwise provided by law, the county legislative body may appoint a
             370      replacement to fill a vacant office that occurs in a vacant office previously filled by
             371      appointment of the county legislative body.
             372          (8) Nothing in this section prevents or prohibits an unaffiliated candidate from filing a
             373      declaration of candidacy for the vacant office within the same time limits as provided in this
             374      section.
             375          (9) (a) A person elected under Subsection (3), (4), or (5) to fill a vacant office shall
             376      serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of the office holder who vacated the office and
             377      until a successor is elected and qualified.
             378          (b) Nothing in this section may be construed to contradict or alter the provisions of
             379      Section 17-16-6 .


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]