By Shields H.J.R. No. 85
74R621 JSA-D
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time that a
1-2 person may serve in legislative office.
1-3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Article III of the Texas Constitution is amended
1-5 by adding Section 7a to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 7a. (a) A person is not eligible to be elected to the
1-7 house of representatives if, before the date of the election, the
1-8 person has served as a member of the house during all or part of
1-9 six or more regular sessions of the legislature.
1-10 (b) A person is not eligible to be elected to the senate if,
1-11 before the date of the election, the person has served as a member
1-12 of the senate during all or part of six or more regular sessions of
1-13 the legislature.
1-14 (c) Legislative service before the legislature convenes in
1-15 regular session in 1997 is not counted in determining whether a
1-16 person is disqualified from election to office under this section.
1-17 SECTION 2. Article III, Section 3, of the Texas Constitution
1-18 is amended to read as follows:
1-19 Sec. 3. (a) The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified
1-20 electors for the term of four years; but a new Senate shall be
1-21 chosen after every apportionment, and the Senators elected after
1-22 each apportionment shall be divided <by lot> into two classes.
1-23 (b) Each Senator who has served as a member of the Senate
1-24 during all or part of five previous Regular Sessions of the
2-1 Legislature is included in the first class. Each Senator who has
2-2 served as a member of the Senate during all or part of exactly four
2-3 previous Regular Sessions of the Legislature is included in the
2-4 second class. The other Senators shall be included in the first
2-5 class or second class so that the number of Senators in each class
2-6 is as equal as possible. If the other Senators must be divided
2-7 between the first class and the second class for that purpose, the
2-8 division shall be made by lot.
2-9 (c) The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be
2-10 vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and those of the
2-11 second class at the expiration of four years<, so that one half of
2-12 the Senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter>.
2-13 (d) Senators shall take office following their election, on
2-14 the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the
2-15 Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years
2-16 to which elected and until their successors shall have been elected
2-17 and qualified.
2-18 (e) Service in the Senate during a Regular Session of the
2-19 Legislature before January 1, 1997, is not counted in determining
2-20 whether a member of the Senate is included in the first class or
2-21 second class after an apportionment under Subsection (b) of this
2-22 section.
2-23 SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-24 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 1995.
2-25 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-26 following proposition: "The constitutional amendment to limit the
2-27 time that a person may serve as a member of the Texas House of
3-1 Representatives or Texas Senate."