State legislators voted Thursday for a bill that, if enacted, would reduce from 10 to five years the license time for lawyers to become Attorney General.

The bill would allow Secretary of Public Safety nominee Ricardo Carpio — a licensed attorney since 2014 — become the state Attorney General of Baja California.

The proposal was voted 19-6. Five lawmakers with the majority coalition and an independent legislator voted against the measure.

Two years ago, the state Assembly voted to open the door to former Governor Jaime Bonilla’s friend and “compadre” Guillermo Ruiz to hold the Attorney General’s office by eliminating the 65 years of age limit requirement to become the state’s top cop. Carpio was nominated by Governor Marina Avila for the Department of Public Safety. However, the agency will be led by a military, according to sources.