By:  Hirschi                                           H.J.R. No. 5
       73R1189 JSA-D
                                  A JOINT RESOLUTION
    1-1  proposing a constitutional amendment to eliminate the
    1-2  constitutional restrictions on the order of business applicable to
    1-3  a regular session of the legislature.
    1-4        BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article III, Section 5, of the Texas Constitution
    1-6  is amended to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 5.  The Legislature shall meet every two years at such
    1-8  time as may be provided by law and at other times when convened by
    1-9  the Governor.  <When convened in regular Session, the first thirty
   1-10  days thereof shall be devoted to the introduction of bills and
   1-11  resolutions, acting upon emergency appropriations, passing upon the
   1-12  confirmation of the recess appointees of the Governor and such
   1-13  emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special
   1-14  messages to the Legislature; provided that during the succeeding
   1-15  thirty days of the regular session of the Legislature the various
   1-16  committees of each House shall hold hearings to consider all bills
   1-17  and resolutions and other matters then pending; and such emergency
   1-18  matters as may be submitted by the Governor; provided further that
   1-19  during the following sixty days the Legislature shall act upon such
   1-20  bills and resolutions as may be then pending and upon such
   1-21  emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special
   1-22  messages to the Legislature; provided, however, either House may
   1-23  otherwise determine its order of business by an affirmative vote of
   1-24  four-fifths of its membership.>
    2-1        SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
    2-2  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1993.
    2-3  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against
    2-4  the following proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to allow
    2-5  the legislature to determine its own order of business during a
    2-6  regular legislative session."