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03 LC 21 7321/AP
House Bill 979 (AS PASSED HOUSE
AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Birdsong of the 104th, Parham of the 94th, Jenkins of the 93rd, and Lucas of the 105th
By: Representatives Birdsong of the 104th, Parham of the 94th, Jenkins of the 93rd, and Lucas of the 105th
A BILL TO BE
ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To amend an Act creating a Board of Commissioners of Jones
County, approved March 5, 1974 (Ga. L. 1974, p. 2162), as amended, particularly
by an Act approved April 5, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 4131), so as to reapportion
the commissioner districts; to define certain terms; to provide for members
currently serving; to provide for the submission of this Act to the United
States Department of Justice; to provide for related matters; to provide
effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
An Act creating a Board of Commissioners of Jones County,
approved March 5, 1974 (Ga. L. 1974, p. 2162), as amended, particularly by an
Act approved April 5, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 4131), is amended by striking in its
entirety Section 2 and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
"SECTION
2.
(a) The board of commissioners of Jones County shall be
composed of a chairperson and four other members.
(b) The chairperson may reside anywhere within Jones County and shall be elected by the voters of the entire county. Each other member must be a resident of the district the member represents and shall be elected by only the voters of that district. All elections shall be by majority vote.
(c) For purposes of electing the members of the board, Jones County is divided into four commissioner districts which shall be and correspond to those four numbered districts described in and attached to and made a part of this Act and further identified as Plan Name: jones-03-01 Plan Type: Local User: staff Administrator: Jones Co.
(d) When used in such attachment, the terms 'Tract' and 'BG' (Block Group) shall mean and describe the same geographical boundaries as provided in the report of the Bureau of the Census for the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. The separate numeric designations in a Tract description which are underneath a 'BG' heading shall mean and describe individual Blocks within a Block Group as provided in the report of the Bureau of the Census for the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. Any part of Jones County which is not included in any such district described in that attachment shall be included within that district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. Any part of Jones County which is described in that attachment as being in a particular district shall nevertheless not be included within such district if such part is not contiguous to such district. Such noncontiguous part shall instead be included within that district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. Except as otherwise provided in the description of any commissioner district, whenever the description of such district refers to a named city, it shall mean the geographical boundaries of that city as shown on the census map for the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia.
(e) The chairperson and each other member of the board shall serve for a term of four years beginning the first day of January next following his or her election. Those members serving in office on the effective date of this Act shall serve until the expiration of the term for which they were elected. Successors shall be elected thereafter at the general election immediately preceding the expiration of a term of office."
(b) The chairperson may reside anywhere within Jones County and shall be elected by the voters of the entire county. Each other member must be a resident of the district the member represents and shall be elected by only the voters of that district. All elections shall be by majority vote.
(c) For purposes of electing the members of the board, Jones County is divided into four commissioner districts which shall be and correspond to those four numbered districts described in and attached to and made a part of this Act and further identified as Plan Name: jones-03-01 Plan Type: Local User: staff Administrator: Jones Co.
(d) When used in such attachment, the terms 'Tract' and 'BG' (Block Group) shall mean and describe the same geographical boundaries as provided in the report of the Bureau of the Census for the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. The separate numeric designations in a Tract description which are underneath a 'BG' heading shall mean and describe individual Blocks within a Block Group as provided in the report of the Bureau of the Census for the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. Any part of Jones County which is not included in any such district described in that attachment shall be included within that district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. Any part of Jones County which is described in that attachment as being in a particular district shall nevertheless not be included within such district if such part is not contiguous to such district. Such noncontiguous part shall instead be included within that district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia. Except as otherwise provided in the description of any commissioner district, whenever the description of such district refers to a named city, it shall mean the geographical boundaries of that city as shown on the census map for the United States decennial census of 2000 for the State of Georgia.
(e) The chairperson and each other member of the board shall serve for a term of four years beginning the first day of January next following his or her election. Those members serving in office on the effective date of this Act shall serve until the expiration of the term for which they were elected. Successors shall be elected thereafter at the general election immediately preceding the expiration of a term of office."
SECTION 2.
It is the purpose of this Act to reapportion the districts
from which members of the board of commissioners of Jones County are to be
elected in the November, 2004, general election and in subsequent general
elections, and this Act results from changes in population based on the United
States decennial census of 2000. It is not the intention of the General Assembly
to affect the membership of current members of the board, their terms of office,
or the manner in which their successors shall be elected, and such matters shall
remain as provided by law on the effective date of this Act until otherwise
amended by law, except to the extent of reapportioning the districts represented
by such members.
SECTION 3.
It shall be the duty of the attorney of the board of
commissioners of Jones County to submit this Act for approval pursuant to
Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as
amended.
SECTION 4.
The provisions of this Act relating to and necessary for the
regular election in 2004 of members of the board of commissioners of Jones
County shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming effective without such approval; and this Act shall otherwise become
effective January 1, 2005.
SECTION 5.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
repealed.