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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to county commissioner elections.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ allows a county to modify the process by which a candidate for county commission
13 is elected when there is more than one vacant county commission position; and
14 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 17-52-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 17
22 17-52-501, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 133
23 17-52-502, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 42
24 20A-1-508, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 35, 297, and 327
25 20A-9-409, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 17
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27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Section 17-52-401 is amended to read:
29 17-52-401. Contents of proposed optional plan.
30 (1) Each optional plan proposed under this chapter:
31 (a) shall propose the adoption of one of the forms of county government listed in
32 Subsection 17-52-402(1)(a);
33 (b) shall contain detailed provisions relating to the transition from the existing form of
34 county government to the form proposed in the optional plan, including provisions relating to
35 the:
36 (i) election or appointment of officers specified in the optional plan for the new form of
37 county government;
38 (ii) retention, elimination, or combining of existing offices and, if an office is
39 eliminated, the division or department of county government responsible for performing the
40 duties of the eliminated office;
41 (iii) continuity of existing ordinances and regulations;
42 (iv) continuation of pending legislative, administrative, or judicial proceedings;
43 (v) making of interim and temporary appointments; and
44 (vi) preparation, approval, and adjustment of necessary budget appropriations;
45 (c) shall specify the date it is to become effective if adopted, which may not be earlier
46 than the first day of January next following the election of officers under the new plan; and
47 (d) notwithstanding any other provision of this title and except with respect to an
48 optional plan that proposes the adoption of the county commission or expanded county
49 commission form of government, with respect to the county budget shall provide that the
50 county executive's role is to prepare and present a proposed budget to the county legislative
51 body, and the county legislative body's role is to adopt a final budget.
52 (2) Subject to Subsection (3), an optional plan may include provisions that are
53 considered necessary or advisable to the effective operation of the proposed optional plan.
54 (3) An optional plan may not include any provision that is inconsistent with or
55 prohibited by the Utah Constitution or any statute.
56 (4) Each optional plan proposing to change the form of government to a form under
57 Section 17-52-504 or 17-52-505 shall:
58 (a) provide for the same executive and legislative officers as are specified in the
59 applicable section for the form of government being proposed by the optional plan;
60 (b) provide for the election of the county council;
61 (c) specify the number of county council members, which shall be an odd number from
62 three to nine;
63 (d) specify whether the members of the county council are to be elected from districts,
64 at large, or by a combination of at large and by district;
65 (e) specify county council members' qualifications and terms and whether the terms are
66 to be staggered;
67 (f) contain procedures for filling vacancies on the county council, consistent with the
68 provisions of Section 20A-1-508; and
69 (g) state the initial compensation, if any, of county council members and procedures for
70 prescribing and changing compensation.
71 (5) Each optional plan proposing to change the form of government to the county
72 commission form under Section 17-52-501 or the expanded county commission form under
73 Section 17-52-502 shall specify:
74 (a) (i) for the county commission form of government, that the county commission
75 shall have three members; or
76 (ii) for the expanded county commission form of government, whether the county
77 commission shall have five or seven members;
78 (b) the terms of office for county commission members and whether the terms are to be
79 staggered;
80 (c) whether members of the county commission are to be elected from districts, at
81 large, or by a combination of at large and from districts; [
82 (d) if any members of the county commission are to be elected from districts, the
83 district residency requirements for those commission members[
84 (e) if any members of the county commission are to be elected at large, whether the
85 election of county commission members is subject to the provisions of Subsection
86 17-52-501(6) or Subsection 17-52-502(6).
87 Section 2. Section 17-52-501 is amended to read:
88 17-52-501. County commission form of government -- Commission member
89 elections.
90 (1) As used in this section:
91 (a) "Midterm vacancy" means a county commission position that is being filled at an
92 election for less than the position's full term as established in:
93 (i) Subsection (4)(a); or
94 (ii) a county's optional plan under Subsection 17-52-401(5)(b).
95 (b) "Open position" means a county commission position that is being filled at a
96 regular general election for the position's full term as established in:
97 (i) Subsection (4)(a); or
98 (ii) a county's optional plan under Subsection 17-52-401(5)(b).
99 (c) "Opt-in county" means a county that has, in accordance with Subsection (6)(a),
100 chosen to conduct county commissioner elections in accordance with Subsection (6).
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102 be governed by a county commission consisting of three members.
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104 the county legislative body and the county executive and has the powers, duties, and functions
105 of a county legislative body under Chapter 53, Part 2, County Legislative Body, and the
106 powers, duties, and functions of a county executive under Chapter 53, Part 3, County
107 Executive.
108 [
109 (a) the term of office of each county commission member is four years;
110 (b) the terms of county commission members shall be staggered so that two members
111 are elected at a regular general election date that alternates with the regular general election
112 date of the other member; and
113 (c) each county commission member shall be elected:
114 (i) at large, unless otherwise required by court order[
115 (ii) subject to the provisions of this section, in accordance with Title 20A, Election
116 Code.
117 (5) Except as provided in Subsection (6):
118 [
119 shall be designated "county commission seat A" and "county commission seat B[
120 (b) each candidate who files a declaration of candidacy when two positions are vacant
121 shall designate on the declaration of candidacy form whether the candidate is a candidate for
122 seat A or seat B[
123 (c) no person may file a declaration of candidacy for, be a candidate for, or be elected
124 to two county commission positions in the same election.
125 (6) (a) A county of the first or second class may, through an alternate plan as described
126 in Subsection 17-52-401(5) or by ordinance, choose to conduct county commissioner elections
127 in accordance with this Subsection (6).
128 (b) When issuing the notice of election required by Subsection 20A-5-101(2), the clerk
129 of an opt-in county shall, if there is at least one open position and at least one midterm vacancy,
130 designate:
131 (i) each open position as "open position"; and
132 (ii) each midterm vacancy as "midterm vacancy".
133 (c) An individual who files a declaration of candidacy for the office of county
134 commissioner in an opt-in county:
135 (i) if there is more than one open position, is not required to indicated which open
136 position the individual is running for;
137 (ii) if there is at least one open position and at least one midterm vacancy, shall
138 designate on the declaration of candidacy whether the individual is filing for an open position
139 or a midterm vacancy; and
140 (iii) may not file a declaration of candidacy for an open position and a midterm
141 vacancy in the same election.
142 (d) If there is an open position and a midterm vacancy being voted upon in the same
143 election in an opt-in county, the county clerk shall indicate on the ballot for the election which
144 positions are open positions and which positions are midterm vacancies.
145 (e) In an opt-in county:
146 (i) the candidates for open positions, in a number equal to the number of open
147 positions, who receive the highest number of votes are:
148 (A) for the purposes of a regular primary election, nominated by the candidates' party
149 for the open positions; and
150 (B) for the purposes of a regular general election, elected to fill the open positions; and
151 (ii) the candidates for midterm vacancies, in a number equal to the number of midterm
152 vacancies, who receive the highest number of votes are:
153 (A) for the purposes of a regular primary election, nominated by the candidates' party
154 for the midterm vacancies; and
155 (B) for the purposes of a regular general election, elected to fill the midterm vacancies.
156 Section 3. Section 17-52-502 is amended to read:
157 17-52-502. Expanded county commission form of government -- Commission
158 member elections.
159 (1) As used in this section:
160 (a) "Midterm vacancy" means the same as that term is defined in Section 17-52-501.
161 (b) "Open position" means the same as that term is defined in Section 17-52-501.
162 (c) "Opt-in county" means a county that has, in accordance with Subsection (6)(a),
163 chosen to conduct county commissioner elections in accordance with Subsection (6).
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165 government shall be governed by a county commission consisting of five or seven members.
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167 government is both the county legislative body and the county executive and has the powers,
168 duties, and functions of a county legislative body under Chapter 53, Part 2, County Legislative
169 Body, and the powers, duties, and functions of a county executive under Chapter 53, Part 3,
170 County Executive.
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172 (a) the term of office of each county commission member is four years;
173 (b) the terms of county commission members shall be staggered so that approximately
174 half the members are elected at alternating regular general election dates; and
175 (c) each county commission member shall be elected[
176 (i) at large, unless otherwise required by court order; and
177 (ii) subject to the provisions of this section, in accordance with Title 20A, Election
178 Code.
179 (5) Except as provided in Subsection (6):
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181 positions shall be designated "county commission seat A," "county commission seat B," and so
182 on as necessary for the number of vacant positions[
183 (b) each candidate who files a declaration of candidacy when multiple positions are
184 vacant shall designate the letter of the county commission seat for which the candidate is a
185 candidate[
186 (c) no person may file a declaration of candidacy for, be a candidate for, or be elected
187 to two county commission positions in the same election.
188 (6) (a) A county of the first or second class may, through an alternate plan as described
189 in Subsection 17-52-401(5) or by ordinance, choose to conduct county commissioner elections
190 in accordance with this Subsection (6).
191 (b) When issuing the notice of election required by Subsection 20A-5-101(2), the clerk
192 of an opt-in county shall, if there is at least one open position and at least one midterm vacancy,
193 designate:
194 (i) each open position as "open position"; and
195 (ii) each midterm vacancy as "midterm vacancy".
196 (c) An individual who files a declaration of candidacy for the office of county
197 commissioner in an opt-in county:
198 (i) if there is more than one open position, is not required to indicated which open
199 position the individual is running for;
200 (ii) if there is at least one open position and at least one midterm vacancy, shall
201 designate on the declaration of candidacy whether the individual is filing for an open position
202 or a midterm vacancy; and
203 (iii) may not file a declaration of candidacy for an open position and a midterm
204 vacancy in the same election.
205 (d) If there is an open position and a midterm vacancy being voted upon in the same
206 election in an opt-in county, the county clerk shall indicate on the ballot for the election which
207 positions are open positions and which positions are midterm vacancies.
208 (e) In an opt-in county:
209 (i) the candidates for open positions, in a number equal to the number of open
210 positions, who receive the highest number of votes are:
211 (A) for the purposes of a regular primary election, nominated by the candidates' party
212 for the open positions; and
213 (B) for the purposes of a regular general election, elected to fill the open positions; and
214 (ii) the candidates for midterm vacancies, in a number equal to the number of midterm
215 vacancies, who receive the highest number of votes are:
216 (A) for the purposes of a regular primary election, nominated by the candidates' party
217 for the midterm vacancies; and
218 (B) for the purposes of a regular general election, elected to fill the midterm vacancies.
219 Section 4. Section 20A-1-508 is amended to read:
220 20A-1-508. Midterm vacancies in county elected offices.
221 (1) As used in this section:
222 (a) (i) "County offices" includes the county executive, members of the county
223 legislative body, the county treasurer, the county sheriff, the county clerk, the county auditor,
224 the county recorder, the county surveyor, and the county assessor.
225 (ii) "County offices" does not mean the offices of president and vice president of the
226 United States, United States senators and representatives, members of the Utah Legislature,
227 state constitutional officers, county attorneys, district attorneys, and judges.
228 (b) "Party liaison" means the political party officer designated to serve as a liaison with
229 each county legislative body on all matters relating to the political party's relationship with a
230 county as required by Section 20A-8-401.
231 (2) (a) Until a replacement is selected as provided in this section and has qualified, the
232 county legislative body shall appoint an interim replacement to fill the vacant office by
233 following the procedures and requirements of this Subsection (2).
234 (b) (i) To appoint an interim replacement, the county legislative body shall give notice
235 of the vacancy to the party liaison of the same political party of the prior office holder and
236 invite that party liaison to submit the name of a person to fill the vacancy.
237 (ii) That party liaison shall, within 30 days, submit the name of the person selected in
238 accordance with the party constitution or bylaws as described in Section 20A-8-401 for the
239 interim replacement to the county legislative body.
240 (iii) The county legislative body shall no later than five days after the day on which a
241 party liaison submits the name of the person for the interim replacement appoint the person to
242 serve out the unexpired term.
243 (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint an interim replacement to fill the
244 vacancy in accordance with Subsection (2)(b)(iii), the county clerk shall send to the governor a
245 letter that:
246 (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a
247 replacement within the statutory time period; and
248 (B) contains the name of the person to fill the vacancy submitted by the party liaison.
249 (ii) The governor shall appoint the person named by the party liaison as an interim
250 replacement to fill the vacancy within 30 days after receipt of the letter.
251 (d) A person appointed as interim replacement under this Subsection (2) shall hold
252 office until their successor is elected and has qualified.
253 (3) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (3) apply to all county offices that become
254 vacant if:
255 (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
256 (ii) the vacancy occurs after the election at which the person was elected but before
257 April 10 of the next even-numbered year.
258 (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (3)(a) are met, the county clerk
259 shall notify the public and each registered political party that the vacancy exists.
260 (ii) [
261 vacant office shall[
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263 (A) Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy; and
264 (B) for a county commission office, Subsection 17-52-501(6) or 17-52-502(6), if
265 applicable; and
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267 or qualified as an independent or write-in candidate under Chapter 8, Political Party Formation
268 and Procedures for the vacant office, shall run in the regular general election.
269 (4) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (4) apply to all county offices that become
270 vacant if:
271 (i) the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
272 (ii) the vacancy occurs after April 9 of the next even-numbered year but more than 75
273 days before the regular primary election.
274 (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (4)(a) are met, the county clerk
275 shall notify the public and each registered political party that:
276 (A) the vacancy exists; and
277 (B) identifies the date and time by which a person interested in becoming a candidate
278 shall file a declaration of candidacy.
279 (ii) [
280 a candidate for a vacant office shall, within five days after the date that the notice is made,
281 ending at the close of normal office hours on the fifth day, file a declaration of candidacy for
282 the vacant office [
283 (A) Chapter 9, Part 2, Candidate Qualifications and Declarations of Candidacy[
284 (B) for a county commission office, Subsection 17-52-501(6) or 17-52-502(6), if
285 applicable.
286 (iii) The county central committee of each party shall:
287 (A) select a candidate or candidates from among those qualified candidates who have
288 filed declarations of candidacy; and
289 (B) certify the name of the candidate or candidates to the county clerk at least 60 days
290 before the regular primary election.
291 (5) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (5) apply to all county offices that become
292 vacant:
293 (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more; and
294 (ii) when 75 days or less remain before the regular primary election but more than 65
295 days remain before the regular general election.
296 (b) When the conditions established in Subsection (5)(a) are met, the county central
297 committees of each political party registered under this title that wishes to submit a candidate
298 for the office shall summarily certify the name of one candidate to the county clerk for
299 placement on the regular general election ballot.
300 (6) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (6) apply to all county offices that become
301 vacant:
302 (i) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of less than two years; or
303 (ii) if the vacant office has an unexpired term of two years or more but 65 days or less
304 remain before the next regular general election.
305 (b) (i) When the conditions established in Subsection (6)(a) are met, the county
306 legislative body shall give notice of the vacancy to the party liaison of the same political party
307 as the prior office holder and invite that party liaison to submit the name of a person to fill the
308 vacancy.
309 (ii) That party liaison shall, within 30 days, submit the name of the person to fill the
310 vacancy to the county legislative body.
311 (iii) The county legislative body shall no later than five days after the day on which a
312 party liaison submits the name of the person to fill the vacancy appoint the person to serve out
313 the unexpired term.
314 (c) (i) If the county legislative body fails to appoint a person to fill the vacancy in
315 accordance with Subsection (6)(b)(iii), the county clerk shall send to the governor a letter that:
316 (A) informs the governor that the county legislative body has failed to appoint a person
317 to fill the vacancy within the statutory time period; and
318 (B) contains the name of the person to fill the vacancy submitted by the party liaison.
319 (ii) The governor shall appoint the person named by the party liaison to fill the vacancy
320 within 30 days after receipt of the letter.
321 (d) A person appointed to fill the vacancy under this Subsection (6) shall hold office
322 until their successor is elected and has qualified.
323 (7) Except as otherwise provided by law, the county legislative body may appoint
324 replacements to fill all vacancies that occur in those offices filled by appointment of the county
325 legislative body.
326 (8) Nothing in this section prevents or prohibits independent candidates from filing a
327 declaration of candidacy for the office within the same time limits.
328 (9) (a) Each person elected under Subsection (3), (4), or (5) to fill a vacancy in a
329 county office shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of the person who created the
330 vacancy and until a successor is elected and qualified.
331 (b) Nothing in this section may be construed to contradict or alter the provisions of
332 Section 17-16-6.
333 Section 5. Section 20A-9-409 is amended to read:
334 20A-9-409. Primary election provisions relating to qualified political party.
335 (1) The fourth Tuesday of June of each even-numbered year is designated as a regular
336 primary election day.
337 (2) (a) A qualified political party that nominates one or more candidates for an elective
338 office under Section 20A-9-407 and does not have a candidate qualify as a candidate for that
339 office under Section 20A-9-408, may, but is not required to, participate in the primary election
340 for that office.
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342 for an elective office under Section 20A-9-408 and does not nominate a candidate for that
343 office under Section 20A-9-407, may, but is not required to, participate in the primary election
344 for that office.
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346 elective office under Section 20A-9-407 and has one or more candidates qualify as a candidate
347 for that office under Section 20A-9-408 shall participate in the primary election for that office.
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349 candidates for an elective office under Section 20A-9-408 and does not nominate a candidate
350 for that office under Section 20A-9-407 shall participate in the primary election for that office.
351 (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), in an opt-in county, as defined in Section
352 17-52-501 or Section 17-52-502, a qualified political party shall participate in the primary
353 election for a county commission office if:
354 (a) there is more than one:
355 (i) open position as defined in Section 17-52-501; or
356 (ii) midterm vacancy as defined in Section 17-52-501; and
357 (b) the number of candidates nominated under Section 20A-9-407 or qualified under
358 Section 20A-9-408 for the respective open positions or midterm vacancies exceeds the number
359 of respective open positions or midterm vacancies.