HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1269        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 718

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

William M. Straus

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to certain county elections for certain vacancies.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

William M. Straus

10th Bristol

1/16/2019

Michael F. Rush

Norfolk and Suffolk

1/25/2019

Kenneth I. Gordon

21st Middlesex

1/29/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1269        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 718

By Mr. Straus of Mattapoisett, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 718) of William M. Straus, Michael F. Rush and Kenneth I. Gordon relative to elections to fill vacancies in certain county positions.  Election Laws.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 390 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to certain county elections for certain vacancies.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 54 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out Section 142 and inserting in place thereof the following section:

Section 142.   Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, upon failure to elect or upon a vacancy in the office of district attorney, register of probate, sheriff, clerk of the courts or in Suffolk county, of the supreme judicial or superior court, at any time preceding the last nine calendar months of the term, the governor shall cause precepts to be issued to the proper officers directing them to call an election within 120 days for the election of said officer.

Upon a vacancy in the office of district attorney, registrar of probate or sheriff, the first assistant district attorney, the first assist ant registrar of probate or the special sheriff, as the case may be, shall assume the duties of the office until a district attorney, registrar of probate or sheriff is elected and qualified.

Upon a vacancy in the office of clerk of the courts in any county, or of the clerk of the supreme judicial court in Suffolk county, the justices of said court may appoint a clerk to hold the office until a clerk is qualified.

Upon a vacancy in the office of a clerk of the superior court in Suffolk county, the justices of said court may appoint a clerk to hold the office until a clerk is qualified.