Senate Bill 3000

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE POWER OF THE CITY OF GAUTIER, MISSISSIPPI, SHALL BE VESTED IN A MAYOR AND SIX COUNCILMEN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 21-9-15 to the contrary, in the City of Gautier, Mississippi, in which the council-manager plan is in effect, the legislative power of such municipality shall be vested in a council consisting of a mayor and six (6) councilmen. In the next regular municipal election in such municipality, the mayor shall be elected at large by the voters of the entire municipality. Each of five (5) councilmen shall be elected from one (1) of five (5) wards to represent the ward and one (1) councilman shall be elected to represent a municipality-wide district.

(2) The method of electing the mayor and councilmen shall be the same as otherwise provided by law. The mayor and councilmen elected pursuant to this section shall hold office for a term of four (4) years or until their successors are elected and qualified. No person shall be eligible to the office of mayor or councilman unless he is a qualified elector of the City of Gautier.

SECTION 2. The City of Gautier, Mississippi, shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, 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.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.