MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Senator(s) Burton

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING TO ADD SECTION 260-A TO THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE ELECTORS OF ANY COUNTY IN A MANNER TO BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

Amend by adding the following section:

Section 260-A. The Legislature shall authorize alternative forms of county government. The Legislature may combine or abolish the county offices otherwise established in this Constitution and may create new offices for the alternative forms of county government. The Legislature shall prescribe by law the duties of each office. The Legislature shall prescribe by law the method by which an election on adopting an alternative form of county government may be called by the electors of a county. An alternative form of government may be established by majority vote of the electors of the county.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors at an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1999, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment requires the Legislature to authorize alternative forms of county government which may be adopted by a majority of the voters of a county calling an election to change the form of county government. It further authorizes the Legislature to create new county offices to serve the alternative forms of county government."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit this resolution, immediately upon adoption by the Legislature, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.