14-YEAR LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMIT
House Joint Resolution O
Sponsor: Rep. John Pappageorge
Committee: Government Operations
Complete to 12-8-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION O AS INTRODUCED 10-21-03
The joint resolution would amend Article IV, Section 54 of the state constitution to provide that no person would be permitted to serve as a state representative or state senator for a combined period of more than 14 years. [A person could serve all 14 years in one legislative body or could divide the 14 years between the House of Representatives and Senate.]
The joint resolution further specifies that a person would not be eligible to serve in the legislature unless he or she is eligible to serve the entire term of legislative office. [This means a person could not be elected to a term if serving the entire term would exceed the 14-year limit.] Finally, the joint resolution specifies that a person who held legislative office for at least one day within a calendar year would be considered to have served for the entire calendar year.
Under the current provisions of the state constitution, a person cannot be elected to the office of state representative more than three times, or state senator more than two times. A person is considered to have been elected to legislative office if he or she serves more than one-half of the term of office.
The proposed amendment would be placed before the state’s voters in a special election held on March 2, 2004.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.