HB1589.html

House Bill 1589 (AM)
By: Representatives Hill of the 81^st, Jordan of the 83^rd, Heckstall of the 48^th, Post 3, Mosby of the 59^th, Post 3, Fludd of the 48^th, Post 4, and others

To provide that the governing authority of Clayton County shall hold a nonbinding referendum asking the electors whether law enforcement services should be consolidated under the office of the sheriff; to provide ballot language; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

The governing authority of Clayton County shall submit to the qualified electors of the county the question of whether the county police force should be consolidated under the office of sheriff. Such referendum shall be held at the time of the general election in 2006. The election superintendent shall issue the call for the election and shall specify that the election shall be held on such date. The election superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of the county. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the following:

"( ) YES

( ) NO

Shall the law enforcement services provided by the Clayton County police force be consolidated under the office of sheriff of Clayton County?"

Those persons desiring to vote in favor of consolidating all law enforcement services of the county police force under the office of sheriff in the county shall vote "Yes," and those persons in favor of maintaining law enforcement services under the county police force or consolidated government police force shall vote "No." The results of such referendum shall not bind the governing authority to take any action but shall be advisory. The county election superintendent shall hold and conduct the election under the same rules and regulations as govern special elections. He or she shall canvas the returns and declare and certify the result of the election to the Secretary of State. The expense of any such election shall be borne by the county wherein the election was held.