HB 723 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

18apr01...0774h

5/24/01 1208s

2001 SESSION

01-0528

03/09

HOUSE BILL 723

AN ACT relative to vacancies in county offices.

SPONSORS: Rep. Leber, Merr 1; Rep. Whalley, Merr 5; Rep. E. Smith, Ches 6; Rep. Emerton, Hills 7; Sen. Flanders, Dist 7

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

ANALYSIS

This bill provides that the members of the county convention shall fill vacancies in county offices.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18apr01...0774h

5/24/01 1208s

01-0528

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

AN ACT relative to vacancies in county offices.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Expense of Bonds; Appointed Officers. Amend RSA 27:4 to read as follows:

27:4 Expense of Bonds. The several counties shall pay the premiums on the bonds of their respective treasurers, registers and deputy registers of deeds, county attorneys, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, and county officers elected by the members of the county convention or appointed by the superior court under RSA 661:9.

2 Vacancies Among County Officers; Election by Members of County Convention. Amend RSA 661:9, I-II to read as follows:

I. If a vacancy occurs in the office of county sheriff, county attorney, register of deeds, or county treasurer, the [superior court] members of the county convention shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by majority vote. The person elected to fill the vacancy shall be a member of the same party as the person vacating the office.

II.(a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a county commissioner, the [superior court] members of the county convention shall fill the vacancy by majority vote until the next biennial election of county officers. The person elected by the members to fill the vacancy shall be a member of the same party as the person vacating the office. If the term filled is less than the unexpired term, then notwithstanding any provisions of RSA 653:1, VI, the commissioner district filled pursuant to this paragraph shall be added to the next biennial election ballot to be chosen by the inhabitants of the county for a 2-year term.

(b) The provisions of subparagraph (a) shall apply only where the vacancy occurred no later than 30 days preceding the printing of the ballots for the primary election.

(c) The provisions of RSA 655:32 and RSA 655:37 relating to nominations by appropriate party committees for vacancies in an office on a primary or general election ballot, respectively, shall apply to vacancies to be filled under this paragraph.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.