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1995 SESSION

LD8842483
HOUSE BILL NO. 2200
Offered January 23, 1995
A BILL to require that geographic residence districts in certain cities be of approximately equal population when any members of city council are elected at large but required to reside in such districts.
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Patrons--Wardrup and Wagner
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Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The provisions of this act shall apply to any city with a population of greater than 350,000 in which any members of the city council are elected at large but are required to be residents of specific geographic residence districts.

§ 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of general or special law to the contrary, in any such city, the geographic residence districts shall be composed of approximately equal populations and shall be redistricted following each decennial United States census pursuant to Chapter 1.1 (§ 15.1-37.4 et seq.) of Title 15.1 of the Code of Virginia. Members of city council in office when such redistricting measure is adopted shall complete their terms of office. The elections for their successors shall be held at the general election next preceding the expiration of the terms of office of the incumbent members and, except as provided in § 3, shall be conducted on the basis of the geographic residence districts set out in the measures to accomplish the redistricting.

§ 3 A. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 15.1-37.5 of the Code of Virginia, in any such city which did not redistrict the residence districts following the 1990 United States census the city council shall complete such redistricting by September 1, 1995.

B. No member of city council in office upon the effective date of this act shall have his term of office shortened in implementing this act.

C. In the event that such city elects members of council for staggered terms of four years, those members elected at the 1994 councilmanic election shall serve the terms for which they were elected. Any members of council to be elected at large as geographic residence district members at the 1996 councilmanic elections shall be elected as residents of the residence districts as they existed prior to the 1995 redistricting, and for terms to expire July 1, 1998.

D. Prior to the first day for filing declarations of candidacy for the 1998 councilmanic elections, city council shall designate the initial terms for the redistricted geographic residence districts. If the number of districts is an even number half of the districts shall be assigned initial terms of two years and half initial terms of four years. If the number of districts is an odd number, initial terms of two years shall be assigned to a simple majority of the districts and the remaining districts shall be assigned initial terms of four years. Thereafter, all council members elected at large from geographic residence districts shall be elected for terms of four years.

§4. Nothing in this act shall affect the terms of office or schedule of elections of any members of council elected by and from the city at large, nor of a mayor elected by and from the city at large.