SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 10

BY  FEENSTRA

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service for members of the general assembly, the lieutenant governor, and the governor. 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  The following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is proposed:
   1.  Section 3 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Representatives.  SEC. 3.  The members of the house of representatives shall be chosen every second year, by the qualified electors of their respective districts, and their term of office shall commence on the first day of January next after their election, and continue two years, and until their successors are elected and qualified. A person shall not be elected for a term as representative if the term would result in more than a total of twelve years of service as a representative. If a person is elected to serve a portion of a term to which some other person was elected but that person died in office or resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, those years served shall not be included in the years of service for purposes of this limitation. This limitation on the years of service shall only apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2017.
   2.  Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Senators —— qualifications.  SEC. 5.  Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence and citizenship. A person shall not be elected for a term as senator if the term would result in more than a total of twelve years of service as a senator. If a person is elected to serve a portion of a term to which some other person was elected but that person died in office or resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, those years served shall not be included in the years of service for purposes of this limitation. This limitation on the years of service shall only apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2017.
   3.  Section 6 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Eligibility.  SEC. 6.  No person shall be eligible to the office of governor, or lieutenant governor, who shall not have been a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the state, two years next preceding the election, and attained the age of thirty years at the time of said election. A person shall not be elected for a term as governor if the term would result in more than a total of twelve years of service as governor. A person shall not be elected for a term as lieutenant governor if the term would result in more than a total of twelve years of service as lieutenant governor. If a person is elevated or appointed to serve a portion of a term to which some other person was elected but that person died in office or resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, those years served shall not be included in the years of service for purposes of this limitation. This limitation on the years of service shall only apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
   Sec. 2.
  REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION.
  The foregoing amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general election for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of state is directed to cause the same to be published for three consecutive months previous to the date of that election as provided by law. 
EXPLANATION
   This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service for persons elected to the offices of representative or senator in the general assembly, lieutenant governor, and governor. The amendment provides that a member of the house of representatives shall not serve more than 12 years as a representative for terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2017, and that a member of the senate shall not serve more than 12 years as a senator for terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2017. The amendment provides that a person elected as lieutenant governor shall not serve more than 12 years as lieutenant governor and that a person elected as governor shall not serve more than 12 years as governor, both applicable to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
   The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.