OVERVIEW

This bill imposes new requirements on certain cities that elect council members by wards. First, cities that elect new council members by wards in a year ending in one will be required to reestablish ward boundaries no later than four weeks before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for council members. Second, if the census shows that the population of any ward in a city electing council members by ward to four-year unstaggered terms changes by five percent or more, this bill would require a new election of all council members at the first municipal general election after the redefinition of ward boundaries. The bill also provides that if no municipal general election of council members would regularly occur in the years following reapportionment (a year ending in "2" or "3") for a city subject to this provision, the city must hold a municipal general election in one of those years to elect a new city council.

SECTION-BY-SECTION SUMMARY

Section 1 [Cities with Wards] changes the schedule provided in existing law for the establishment of ward boundaries for a city that elects council members by ward in a year ending in one. The city must reestablish ward boundaries at least four weeks before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for council members.

Section 2 [Voting Rights] provides a confirming amendment to the to the section of law authorizing voters to challenge city ward redistricting plans to reflect the new requirement for establishment of ward boundaries provided in section 1 of this bill.

Section 3 [Boundary Changes] provides an exception to the general prohibition that prevents changes to precinct boundaries in a year ending in zero until the legislature has been redistricted. This exception will allow cities electing council members by wards to establish new precinct boundaries within 14 days after adopting ward boundaries in a year ending in one.

Section 4 [Boundary Change Procedure] reduces the minimum time period required to change and post election precinct boundaries. Current law requires changes to be made at least 90 days before the election; the new law would require at least ten weeks.

Section 5 [General Provisions; New Election of Council Members] This section applies to a city of the first class that elects council members by ward to serve four-year unstaggered terms. If the population of any ward in the city has changed by five percent or more, this section would require the city to elect a new council at the first municipal general election after the redefinition of ward boundaries. This section requires the new election to be held in a year ending in "2" or "3."

Section 6 [Effective Date] makes the new municipal ward boundaries that would be required under section 1 of this bill effective for the municipal election in the year ending in one.

Section 7 [Effective Date] makes the entire bill effective the day following final enactment.

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