88S40018 BEF-F
 
  By: Clardy H.J.R. No. 8
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment providing requirements for
  the exercise of the power of impeachment by the House of
  Representatives and providing that officers against whom articles
  of impeachment are preferred receive pay during the pendency of
  impeachment proceedings.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1, Article XV, Texas Constitution, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1.  (a) The power of impeachment shall be vested in the
  House of Representatives.
         (b)  When exercising the power of impeachment, the House of
  Representatives must:
               (1)  conduct a thorough, even-handed investigation of
  all articles of impeachment;
               (2)  ensure all testimony presented to and considered
  by the House of Representatives is provided under oath;
               (3)  provide any officer against whom articles of
  impeachment may be preferred and the officer's legal counsel the
  opportunity to:
                     (A)  be present during all hearings before the
  House of Representatives and committees of the House of
  Representatives; and
                     (B)  examine the witnesses and evidence against
  the officer; and
               (4)  provide the members of the House of
  Representatives at least 14 calendar days to review all records
  pertaining to articles of impeachment before voting on the articles
  of impeachment.
         SECTION 2.  Section 5, Article XV, Texas Constitution, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 5.  All officers against whom articles of impeachment
  may be preferred shall be suspended, with pay, from the exercise of
  the duties of their office[,] during the pendency of such
  impeachment. The Governor may make a provisional appointment to
  fill the vacancy[,] occasioned by the suspension of an officer
  until the decision on the impeachment.
         SECTION 3.  The following temporary provision is added to
  the Texas Constitution:
         TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
  to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th Legislature,
  4th Called Session, 2023, providing requirements for the exercise
  of the power of impeachment by the House of Representatives and
  providing that officers against whom articles of impeachment are
  preferred receive pay during the pendency of impeachment
  proceedings.
         (b)  The amendments to Sections 1 and 5, Article XV, of this
  constitution take effect January 1, 2025, and apply only to an
  impeachment that is subject to a vote by the House of
  Representatives on the question of impeachment on or after that
  date.
         (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2026.
         SECTION 4.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2024.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing requirements
  for the exercise of the power of impeachment by the House of
  Representatives and providing that officers against whom articles
  of impeachment are preferred receive pay during the pendency of
  impeachment proceedings."