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H.B. 248

             1     

COUNTY OFFICE VACANCIES

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Carl Wimmer

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions related to midterm vacancies in county elected offices.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines terms;
             13          .    amends provisions related to midterm vacancies in county elected offices;
             14          .    amends provisions related to a party liaison; and
             15          .    makes technical corrections.
             16      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22          20A-1-508, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 197
             23          20A-8-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 177
             24          20A-8-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 49
             25     
             26      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             27          Section 1. Section 20A-1-508 is amended to read:


             28           20A-1-508. Midterm vacancies in county elected offices.
             29          (1) As used in this section:
             30          (a) (i) "County offices" includes the county executive, members of the county
             31      legislative body, the county treasurer, the county sheriff, the county clerk, the county auditor,
             32      the county recorder, the county surveyor, and the county assessor.
             33          [(b)] (ii) "County offices" does not mean the offices of president and vice president of
             34      the United States, United States senators and representatives, members of the Utah Legislature,
             35      state constitutional officers, county attorneys, district attorneys, and judges.
             36          (b) "Party liaison" means the political party officer designated to serve as a liaison with
             37      each county legislative body on all matters relating to the political party's relationship with a
             38      county as required by Section 20A-8-401 .
             39          (2) (a) Until a replacement is selected as provided in this section and has qualified, the
             40      county legislative body shall appoint an interim replacement to fill the vacant office by
             41      following the procedures and requirements of this Subsection (2).
             42          (b) (i) To appoint an interim replacement, the county legislative body shall give notice
             43      of the vacancy to the [county central committee] party liaison of the same political party of the
             44      prior office holder and invite that [committee] party liaison to submit the [names of three
             45      nominees] name of a person to fill the vacancy.
             46          (ii) That [county central committee] party liaison shall, within 30 days, submit the
             47      [names of three nominees] name of the person for the interim replacement to the county
             48      legislative body.
             49          (iii) The county legislative body shall[, within 45 days after the vacancy occurs,
             50      appoint one of those nominees] no later than five days after the day on which a party liaison
             51      submits the name of the person for the interim replacement appoint the person to serve out the
             52      unexpired term.
             53          (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint an interim replacement to fill the
             54      vacancy [within 45 days] in accordance with Subsection (2)(b)(iii), the county clerk shall send
             55      to the governor a letter that:
             56          (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a
             57      replacement within the statutory time period; and
             58          (B) contains the [list of nominees] name of the person to fill the vacancy submitted by


             59      the [party central committee] party liaison.
             60          (ii) The governor shall appoint the person named by the party liaison as an interim
             61      replacement [from that list of nominees] to fill the vacancy within 30 days after receipt of the
             62      letter.
             63          (d) A person appointed as interim replacement under this Subsection (2) shall hold
             64      office until their successor is elected and has qualified.
             65          (3) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (3) apply to all county offices that become
             66      vacant if:
             67          (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             68          (ii) the vacancy occurs after the election at which the person was elected but before
             69      April 10 of the next even-numbered year.
             70          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (3)(a) are met, the county clerk
             71      shall notify the public and each registered political party that the vacancy exists.
             72          (ii) All persons intending to become candidates for the vacant office shall:
             73          (A) file a declaration of candidacy according to the procedures and requirements of
             74      Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy; and
             75          (B) if nominated as a party candidate or qualified as an independent or write-in
             76      candidate under Chapter 8, Political Party Formation and Procedures, run in the regular general
             77      election.
             78          (4) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (4) apply to all county offices that become
             79      vacant if:
             80          (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             81          (ii) the vacancy occurs after April 9 of the next even-numbered year but more than 50
             82      days before the regular primary election.
             83          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (4)(a) are met, the county clerk
             84      shall notify the public and each registered political party that:
             85          (A) the vacancy exists; and
             86          (B) identifies the date and time by which a person interested in becoming a candidate
             87      must file a declaration of candidacy.
             88          (ii) All persons intending to become candidates for the vacant offices shall, within five
             89      days after the date that the notice is made, ending at the close of normal office hours on the


             90      fifth day, file a declaration of candidacy for the vacant office as required by Chapter 9, Part 2,
             91      Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy.
             92          (iii) The county central committee of each party shall:
             93          (A) select a candidate or candidates from among those qualified candidates who have
             94      filed declarations of candidacy; and
             95          (B) certify the name of the candidate or candidates to the county clerk at least 35 days
             96      before the regular primary election.
             97          (5) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (5) apply to all county offices that become
             98      vacant:
             99          (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
             100          (ii) when 50 days or less remain before the regular primary election but more than 50
             101      days remain before the regular general election.
             102          (b) When the conditions established in Subsection (5)(a) are met, the county central
             103      committees of each political party registered under this title that wishes to submit a candidate
             104      for the office shall summarily certify the name of one candidate to the county clerk for
             105      placement on the regular general election ballot.
             106          (6) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (6) apply to all county offices that become
             107      vacant:
             108          (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of less than two years; or
             109          (ii) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more but 50 days or less
             110      remain before the next regular general election.
             111          (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (6)(a) are met, the county
             112      legislative body shall give notice of the vacancy to the [county central committee] party liaison
             113      of the same political party as the prior office holder and invite that [committee] party liaison to
             114      submit the [names of three nominees] name of a person to fill the vacancy.
             115          (ii) That [county central committee] party liaison shall, within 30 days, submit the
             116      [names of three nominees] name of the person to fill the vacancy to the county legislative body.
             117          (iii) The county legislative body shall[, within 45 days after the vacancy occurs,
             118      appoint one of those nominees] no later than five days after the day on which a party liaison
             119      submits the name of the person to fill the vacancy appoint the person to serve out the unexpired
             120      term.


             121          (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint a person to fill the vacancy [within
             122      45 days] in accordance with Subsection (6)(b)(iii), the county clerk shall send to the governor a
             123      letter that:
             124          (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a person
             125      to fill the vacancy within the statutory time period; and
             126          (B) contains the [list of nominees] name of the person to fill the vacancy submitted by
             127      the [party central committee] party liaison.
             128          (ii) The governor shall appoint [a person to fill the vacancy from that list of nominees]
             129      the person named by the party liaison to fill the vacancy within 30 days after receipt of the
             130      letter.
             131          (d) A person appointed to fill the vacancy under this Subsection (6) shall hold office
             132      until their successor is elected and has qualified.
             133          (7) Except as otherwise provided by law, the county legislative body may appoint
             134      replacements to fill all vacancies that occur in those offices filled by appointment of the county
             135      legislative body.
             136          (8) Nothing in this section prevents or prohibits independent candidates from filing a
             137      declaration of candidacy for the office within the same time limits.
             138          (9) (a) Each person elected under Subsection (3), (4), or (5) to fill a vacancy in a
             139      county office shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of the person who created the
             140      vacancy and until a successor is elected and qualified.
             141          (b) Nothing in this section may be construed to contradict or alter the provisions of
             142      Section 17-16-6 .
             143          Section 2. Section 20A-8-401 is amended to read:
             144           20A-8-401. Registered political parties -- Bylaws.
             145          (1) (a) Each registered state political party shall file a copy of its constitution and
             146      bylaws with the lieutenant governor by January 1, 1995.
             147          (b) Each new or unregistered state political party that seeks to become a registered
             148      political party under the authority of this chapter shall file a copy of its proposed constitution
             149      and bylaws at the time it files its registration information.
             150          (c) Each registered state political party shall file revised copies of its constitution or
             151      bylaws with the lieutenant governor within 15 days after the constitution or bylaws are adopted


             152      or amended.
             153          (2) Each state political party, each new political party seeking registration, and each
             154      unregistered political party seeking registration shall ensure that its constitution or bylaws
             155      contain:
             156          (a) provisions establishing party organization, structure, membership, and governance
             157      that include:
             158          (i) a description of the position, selection process, qualifications, duties, and terms of
             159      each party officer and committees defined by constitution and bylaws;
             160          (ii) a provision requiring a designated party officer to serve as liaison with:
             161          (A) the lieutenant governor on all matters relating to the political party's relationship
             162      with the state; and
             163          (B) each county legislative body on matters relating to the political party's relationship
             164      with a county;
             165          (iii) a description of the requirements for participation in party processes;
             166          (iv) the dates, times, and quorum of any regularly scheduled party meetings,
             167      conventions, or other conclaves; and
             168          (v) a mechanism for making the names of delegates, candidates, and elected party
             169      officers available to the public shortly after they are selected;
             170          (b) a procedure for selecting party officers that allows active participation by party
             171      members;
             172          (c) a procedure for selecting party candidates at the federal, state, and county levels that
             173      allows active participation by party members;
             174          (d) (i) a procedure for selecting electors who are pledged to cast their votes in the
             175      electoral college for the party's candidates for president and vice president of the United States;
             176      and
             177          (ii) a procedure for filling vacancies in the office of presidential elector because of
             178      death, refusal to act, failure to attend, ineligibility, or any other cause;
             179          (e) a procedure for filling vacancies in the office of representative or senator because of
             180      death, resignation, or ineligibility;
             181          (f) a provision requiring the governor and lieutenant governor to run as a joint ticket;
             182          (g) a procedure for replacing party candidates who die, become disabled, or are


             183      disqualified before a primary or regular general election;
             184          (h) provisions governing the deposit and expenditure of party funds, and governing the
             185      accounting for, reporting, and audit of party financial transactions;
             186          (i) provisions governing access to party records;
             187          (j) a procedure for amending the constitution or bylaws that allows active participation
             188      by party members or their representatives;
             189          (k) a process for resolving grievances against the political party; and
             190          (l) if desired by the political party, a process for consulting with, and obtaining the
             191      opinion of, the political party's Utah Senate and Utah House members about:
             192          (i) the performance of the two United States Senators from Utah, including
             193      specifically:
             194          (A) their views and actions regarding the defense of state's rights and federalism; and
             195          (B) their performance in representing Utah's interests;
             196          (ii) the members' opinion about, or rating of, and support or opposition to the policy
             197      positions of any candidates for United States Senate from Utah, including incumbents,
             198      including specifically:
             199          (A) their views and actions regarding the defense of state's rights and federalism; and
             200          (B) their performance in representing Utah's interests; and
             201          (iii) the members' collective or individual endorsement or rating of a particular
             202      candidate for United States Senate from Utah.
             203          Section 3. Section 20A-8-402 is amended to read:
             204           20A-8-402. Political party officers -- Submission of names of officers to the
             205      lieutenant governor.
             206          (1) Each state political party shall:
             207          (a) designate a party officer to act as liaison with:
             208          (i) the lieutenant governor's office; and
             209          (ii) each county legislative body; and
             210          (b) within seven days of any change in the party liaison, submit the name of the new
             211      liaison to the lieutenant governor.
             212          (2) Each state political party and each county political party shall:
             213          (a) submit the names of its officers to the lieutenant governor within seven days after


             214      the officers are selected; and
             215          (b) within seven days of any change in party officers, submit the names of the new
             216      officers to the lieutenant governor.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-24-11 4:39 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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