TERM LIMITS EXCEPTION                                                                              S.J.R. GG:

                                                                                  SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

Senate Joint Resolution GG (as introduced 12-10-14)

Sponsor:  Senator Randy Richardville

Committee:  Committee of the Whole

CONTENT

The joint resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would allow a person to be elected to the Michigan Senate one time, and to the Michigan House of Representatives three times, in addition to the number of times a person may be elected under existing term limits, if the person submitted petitions with a sufficient number of signatures.

Under Article IV, Section 54 of the State Constitution, a person may not be elected to the Senate more than twice, and may not be elected to the House of Representatives more than three times. The joint resolution would make an exception to these limits.

Specifically, the limitations on the number of times someone may be elected to the Senate and the House would not apply if a person submitted petitions signed by a number of registered and qualified electors equal to 25% of the number of people voting in the last election for Governor in the electoral district where the person was seeking office. A person who submitted petitions signed by a sufficient number of voters could be elected to the Senate one additional time. A person who submitted petitions with a sufficient number of signatures could be elected to the House an additional three times.

If approved by a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature, the joint resolution would have to be submitted to the voters at the next general election.

                                                                              Legislative Analyst:  Suzanne Lowe

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  12-12-14                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.