By:  Wilson                                           H.J.R. No. 78
       73R5805 JSA-D
                                  A JOINT RESOLUTION
    1-1  proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a constitutional
    1-2  revision commission and to convene a constitutional convention.
    1-3        BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Article XVII of the Texas Constitution is amended
    1-5  by adding Section 3 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 3.  (a)  When the legislature convenes in regular
    1-7  session in January 1995 it shall provide by concurrent resolution
    1-8  for the establishment of a constitutional revision commission.  The
    1-9  legislature shall appropriate money to provide an adequate staff,
   1-10  office space, equipment, and supplies for the commission.
   1-11        (b)  The commission shall study the need for constitutional
   1-12  change and shall report its recommendations to the members of the
   1-13  legislature not later than November 1, 1995.
   1-14        (c)  The members of the 74th Legislature shall be convened as
   1-15  a constitutional convention at noon on the second Tuesday in
   1-16  January 1996.  The lieutenant governor shall preside until a
   1-17  chairman of the convention is elected.  The convention shall elect
   1-18  other officers it determines necessary, adopt temporary and
   1-19  permanent rules, and publish a journal of its proceedings.  A
   1-20  person elected to fill a vacancy in the 74th Legislature before
   1-21  dissolution of the convention becomes a member of the convention on
   1-22  taking office as a member of the legislature.
   1-23        (d)  Members of the convention shall receive compensation in
   1-24  addition to that provided by law for service in the legislature  as
    2-1  determined by a five-member committee to be composed of the
    2-2  governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, chief justice
    2-3  of the supreme court, and chief justice of the court of criminal
    2-4  appeals.  The convention may provide for the expenses of its
    2-5  members and for the employment of a staff for the convention.  For
    2-6  these purposes the convention by resolution may appropriate money
    2-7  from the general revenue fund of the state treasury.  Warrants
    2-8  shall be drawn pursuant to vouchers signed by the chairman or by a
    2-9  person authorized by him in writing to sign them.
   2-10        (e)  The convention by resolution adopted on the vote of at
   2-11  least two-thirds of its members may submit for a vote of the
   2-12  qualified electors of this state a new constitution, which may
   2-13  contain alternative articles or sections, or may submit revisions
   2-14  of the existing constitution, which may contain alternative
   2-15  articles or sections.  Each resolution shall specify the date of
   2-16  the election, the form of the ballots, and the method of
   2-17  publicizing the proposals to be voted on.  To be adopted, each
   2-18  proposal must receive the favorable vote of a majority of those
   2-19  voting on the proposal.  The conduct of the election, the
   2-20  canvassing of the votes, and the reporting of the returns shall be
   2-21  as provided for elections under Section 1 of this article.
   2-22        (f)  The convention may be dissolved by resolution adopted on
   2-23  the vote of at least two-thirds of its members; but it is
   2-24  automatically dissolved at 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 1996, unless its
   2-25  duration is extended for a period not to exceed 60 days by
   2-26  resolution adopted on the vote of at least two-thirds of its
   2-27  members.
    3-1        (g)  The convention may not propose any deletion or amendment
    3-2  of Article I of this constitution as Article I exists on the date
    3-3  the convention convenes, and Article I as it exists on that date
    3-4  shall be retained in full, except as amended under Section 1 of
    3-5  this article.
    3-6        (h)  This section expires January 1, 1999.
    3-7        SECTION 2.  Article XVII, Section 2, of the Texas
    3-8  Constitution is repealed.
    3-9        SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
   3-10  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1993.
   3-11  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against
   3-12  the following proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to
   3-13  convene a constitutional convention to revise the Texas
   3-14  Constitution."