ANNEXATION ELECTIONS - 71.015

Under current law for annexation elections in non-charter counties, a majority of the voters in the municipality seeking to annex the property and a majority of the voters in the territory sought to be annexed must approve the annexation. If less than a majority of the voters in the territory sought to be annexed vote in favor of the annexation, but a majority of voters in the municipality seeking to annex the territory approve the annexation, then another annexation election must occur not more than 120 days later.

This act provides that the subsequent annexation election must occur not more than 160 days later.

CITY GOVERNING BODY ELECTIONS - 77.030 & 79.050

Under current law, third and fourth class cities may elect to extend the terms of office for members of their governing bodies from two years to four years.

This act provides that, if a third or fourth class city adopts a proposal to extend the term of office to four years, the city governing body may adopt an ordinance providing for elections to occur every other year. In the ordinance, the city may stipulate that members who are up for reelection at the first election following the passage of the ordinance must be elected to a three-year term. The other members are elected to a four-year term at the next election. At elections held following the expiration of those initial terms, all of the members are elected to four-year terms.

JACKSON COUNTY POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES - 115.607

This act modifies the membership of the county political party committees in Jackson County.

Under current law, the committee's membership is comprised of two members from each ward in Kansas City, sixteen members from the most populous township outside the city, six members from the second and third most populous townships outside of the city, and four members from the other townships outside the city. The election authority is required to divide the portion of Kansas City located within Jackson county into wards.

Under this act, members of the county committee shall be elected from the state representative districts. Two men and two women shall be elected from a district wholly contained in the county, two men and two women shall be elected from a district predominantly contained in the county, and one man and one woman shall be elected from a district that is partially but not predominantly contained in the county.

This act repeals the provision requiring the election authority to divide Kansas City into wards.

This provision is identical to SB 578 (2014) and is similar to provisions in SS/HCS/HB 199 (2013), HCS/HB 349 (2013), SB 395 (2013), and SS/HCS/HB 110 (2013) that was vetoed by the Governor.

MEGHAN LUECKE