Download Zipped Enrolled WordPerfect HB0305.ZIP
[Introduced][Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note] [Bills Directory]

---

H.B. 305 Enrolled

             1     

MIDTERM VACANCIES IN MUNICIPAL OFFICES
             2      2011 GENERAL SESSION
             3      STATE OF UTAH
             4      Chief Sponsor: Kraig Powell
             5      Senate Sponsor: Kevin T. Van Tassell
             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Election Code by amending provisions for filling a vacancy in a
             10      municipality.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    repeals a provision that prohibits a member of a municipal legislative body from
             14      participating in the process to fill a vacancy in the mayor position if that member is
             15      being considered to fill the vacancy; and
             16          .    makes technical changes.
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          None
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23          10-3-507, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 19
             24          20A-1-510, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 19
             25     
             26      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             27          Section 1. Section 10-3-507 is amended to read:
             28           10-3-507. Minimum vote required.
             29          (1) The minimum number of yes votes required to pass any ordinance or resolution, or

---

             30      to take any action by the council, unless otherwise prescribed by law, is a majority of [all] the
             31      voting members of the council, without considering any vacancy in the council.
             32          (2) (a) Any ordinance, resolution, or motion of the council having fewer favorable
             33      votes than required in this section is defeated and invalid.
             34          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), a council meeting may be adjourned to a
             35      specific time by a majority vote of the council even though the majority vote is less than that
             36      required in this section.
             37          (3) A majority of the council members, regardless of number, may fill any vacancy in
             38      the council as provided under Section 20A-1-510 .
             39          Section 2. Section 20A-1-510 is amended to read:
             40           20A-1-510. Midterm vacancies in municipal offices.
             41          (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (2), if any vacancy occurs in the
             42      office of municipal executive or member of a municipal legislative body, the municipal
             43      legislative body shall appoint a registered voter in the municipality who meets the
             44      qualifications for office established in Section 10-3-301 to fill the unexpired term of the office
             45      vacated until the January following the next municipal election.
             46          (b) Before acting to fill the vacancy, the municipal legislative body shall:
             47          (i) give public notice of the vacancy at least two weeks before the municipal legislative
             48      body meets to fill the vacancy; and
             49          (ii) identify, in the notice:
             50          (A) the date, time, and place of the meeting where the vacancy will be filled; [and]
             51          (B) the person to whom a person interested in being appointed to fill the vacancy may
             52      submit [his] the interested person's name for consideration; and [any]
             53          (C) the deadline for submitting [it] an interested person's name.
             54          (c) (i) If, for any reason, the municipal legislative body does not fill the vacancy within
             55      30 days after the vacancy occurs, the municipal legislative body shall [vote upon] fill the
             56      vacancy from among the names that have been submitted.
             57          (ii) The two persons having the highest number of votes of the municipal legislative

---

             58      body after a first vote is taken shall appear before the municipal legislative body and the
             59      municipal legislative body shall vote again.
             60          (iii) If neither candidate receives a majority vote of the municipal legislative body at
             61      that time, the vacancy shall be filled by lot in the presence of the municipal legislative body.
             62          (2) (a) A vacancy in the office of municipal executive or member of a municipal
             63      legislative body shall be filled by an interim appointment, followed by an election to fill a
             64      two-year term, if:
             65          (i) the vacancy occurs, or a letter of resignation is received, by the municipal executive
             66      at least 14 days before the deadline for filing for election in an odd-numbered year; and
             67          (ii) two years of the vacated term will remain after the first Monday of January
             68      following the next municipal election.
             69          (b) In appointing an interim replacement, the municipal legislative body shall comply
             70      with the notice requirements of this section.
             71          [(3) A member of a municipal legislative body may not participate in any part of the
             72      process established in this section to fill a vacancy if that member is being considered for
             73      appointment to fill the vacancy.]
             74          [(4)] (3) (a) In a municipality operating under the council-mayor form of government,
             75      as defined in Section 10-3b-102 :
             76          (i) the council may appoint a person to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor before the
             77      effective date of the mayor's resignation by making the effective date of the appointment the
             78      same as the effective date of the mayor's resignation; and
             79          (ii) if a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs before the effective date of an
             80      appointment under Subsection (1) or (2) to fill the vacancy, the council chair shall serve as
             81      acting mayor during the time between the creation of the vacancy and the effective date of the
             82      appointment to fill the vacancy.
             83          (b) While serving as acting mayor under Subsection [(4)] (3)(a)(ii), the council chair
             84      continues to:
             85          (i) act as a council member; and

---

             86          (ii) vote at council meetings.

---

[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]