CONCEPT DRAFT

SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to create a uniform structure for county government, to be effective on election day in November 2006. Specifically, this bill proposes to:

1. Increase the number of county commissioners from 3 to 5. Of the 5 commissioners, 4 would serve from districts of uniform size within the county and the 5th would be elected from the county at large;

2. Establish the terms of office for county commissioners at 4 years. Three of the 5 county commissioners would be elected in even-numbered years and the remaining 2 commissioners would be elected in odd-numbered years;

3. Authorize the county commissioners to appoint the county sheriff, register of deeds and county treasurer;

4. Dissolve the office of judge of probate and transfer probate judicial functions to the Superior Court and District Court; and

5. Give the clerk of the Superior Court immediate supervisory authority over the register of probate and make the position of register of probate subject to state civil service law.