By Dutton H.J.R. No. 63
74R4939 CAG-D
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish the office of
1-2 sheriff in Harris County.
1-3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 23, Article V, of the Texas Constitution
1-5 is amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 23. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
1-7 section, there <There> shall be elected by the qualified voters of
1-8 each county a Sheriff, who shall hold his office for the term of
1-9 four years, whose duties, qualifications, perquisites, and fees of
1-10 office, shall be prescribed by the Legislature, and vacancies in
1-11 whose office shall be filled by the Commissioners Court until the
1-12 next general election.
1-13 (b) The office of Sheriff in Harris County is abolished.
1-14 The functions of the office are transferred to the police
1-15 department of the municipality with the largest population in the
1-16 county. However, the office of Sheriff is abolished under this
1-17 subsection only if, at the statewide election at which the
1-18 constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office
1-19 in that county is submitted to the voters, a majority of the voters
1-20 of that county voting on the question at that election favor the
1-21 amendment.
1-22 SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to the
1-23 Texas Constitution:
1-24 TEMPORARY PROVISION. The abolition of the office of sheriff
2-1 in Harris County under the constitutional amendment proposed by the
2-2 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, providing for the
2-3 abolition of the office in that county takes effect January 1,
2-4 1997, if the conditions of Subsection (b), Section 23, Article V,
2-5 as added by that constitutional amendment, are met. This provision
2-6 expires January 2, 1997.
2-7 SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-8 submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 7,
2-9 1995. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against
2-10 the proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for the
2-11 abolition of the office of sheriff in Harris County."