By Cook H.J.R. No. 16 74R2008 JSA-F A JOINT RESOLUTION 1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time that a 1-2 person may serve in legislative office or in certain executive 1-3 offices. 1-4 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Article III of the Texas Constitution is amended 1-6 by adding Section 7a to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 7a. (a) A person is not eligible to be elected to the 1-8 house of representatives if, on the date of the election, the 1-9 person has served as a member of the house during all or part of 1-10 the seven most recent regular sessions of the legislature. 1-11 (b) A person is not eligible to be elected to the senate if, 1-12 on the date of the election, the person has served as a member of 1-13 the senate during all or part of the seven most recent regular 1-14 sessions of the legislature. 1-15 (c) Legislative service before the legislature convenes in 1-16 regular session in 1997 is not considered in determining whether a 1-17 person is disqualified from election to office under this section. 1-18 SECTION 2. Article IV of the Texas Constitution is amended 1-19 by adding Section 2a to read as follows: 1-20 Sec. 2a. (a) A person is not eligible to a full or partial 1-21 term in an elective office listed in Section 1 of this article or 1-22 in any other state office, other than a judicial office, elected by 1-23 the voters at a statewide election, if on the date the term begins 1-24 the person has served in that office during any part of each of 2-1 eight or more calendar years. 2-2 (b) For purposes of this section, service in more than one 2-3 elective position on the governing board of a state agency is 2-4 considered service in the same office. This subsection does not 2-5 apply to ex officio service on a governing board. 2-6 (c) Nothing in this section prohibits a person from 2-7 continuing to serve in an office covered by this section after the 2-8 end of a term as a holdover under Article XVI, Section 17, of this 2-9 constitution until a successor is qualified. 2-10 (d) For purposes of this section, a calendar year begins 2-11 January 1 and ends December 31. 2-12 (e) Service in office before January 1, 1997, does not count 2-13 for purposes of determining whether a person is disqualified from 2-14 office under this section. 2-15 SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 2-16 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 1995. 2-17 The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against 2-18 the following proposition: "The constitutional amendment to limit 2-19 the time that a person may serve as a member of the Texas 2-20 Legislature or as an elected state officer in the executive 2-21 branch."