2022 -- H 8255

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LC005974

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE WARWICK CITY CHARTER

REGARDING NEW ELECTED TERM LENGTHS AND TERM LIMITS FOR MAYOR AND

COUNCIL ELECTIVE TERMS COMMENCING JANUARY, 2025

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Vella-Wilkinson, Solomon, Serpa, and P
Morgan

     Date Introduced: May 13, 2022

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Pursuant to the request of the Warwick City Council by resolution adopted

on April 19, 2022, Article 2, Section 1, and Article 3, Section 1, of the Warwick City Charter are

hereby amended to read as follows:

     Article 2, Section 1 - CITY COUNCIL - Structure and powers.

     The legislative powers of the city shall be vested in the city council. The city council shall

consist of nine members who shall be elected in each even year for a term of two years, with service

on the city council to be limited to six consecutive two-year terms, exclusive of service prior to

January, 2025, and any partial term of less than one year, previously served. One member of the

council shall be elected form each of the nine wards, and members shall be residents of the wards

they represent.

     Article 3, Section 1. - MAYOR - Election and term.

     There shall be a mayor who shall be elected at the general election in each even year for a

term of two (2) four (4) years, until his successor is elected and qualified, with a limit on service as

mayor to two (2) consecutive terms, exclusive of service prior to January, 2025, and any partial

term of less than two (2) years previously served.

     SECTION 2. Pursuant to Article X, Section 10-29 of the City Charter, these amendments

shall be submitted to the voters of the city at the next general election to be held in November,

2022, for approval or rejection thereof in the following form:

     "1. For elective terms commencing January 2025, shall the term of office for Mayor be

increased from two (2) to four (4) years with service as Mayor limited to two (2) consecutive four

(4)-year terms, exclusive of service prior to January 2025 and any partial term of less than two (2)

years, and shall service on the City Council be limited to six (6) consecutive two (2)-year terms,

exclusive of service prior to January 2025 and any partial term of less than one year?

      APPROVE DISAPPROVE"

     SECTION 3. This section and section 2 of this act shall take effect upon passage, and

Section 1 of this act shall take effect if a majority of those electors qualified to vote upon the

question as set forth in section 2 shall vote in favor thereof.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE WARWICK CITY CHARTER

REGARDING NEW ELECTED TERM LENGTHS AND TERM LIMITS FOR MAYOR AND

COUNCIL ELECTIVE TERMS COMMENCING JANUARY, 2025

***

     This act would approve charter amendments to the Warwick city charter increasing the

term of office for mayor from two (2) years to four (4) years with a limit of two (2) consecutive

terms and limiting members of the city council to six (6) consecutive two (2) year terms

commencing January 1, 2025, subject to voter approval at a general or special election.

     Sections 2 and 3 of this act would take effect upon passage. Section 1 of this act would

take effect upon approval of the voters of the city of Warwick at a general election to be held in

November of 2022.

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LC005974

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