SRC-MAX S.J.R. 18 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.J.R. 18
By: Galloway
State Affairs
4-21-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, elected officials in Texas may serve an unlimited number of
terms in public office.  There are 20 states that limit the terms of state
lawmakers and executive branch officials.  It is believed that term limits
allow greater citizen participation and eliminate lifetime careers of
public service. S.J.R. 18 requires the submission to the voters of a
constitutional amendment authorizing term limits for certain statewide
elected officials. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.J.R. 18 requires the submission to the voters of a
constitutional amendment to limit the time that a person may serve in
legislative office or in a statewide elective executive office. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article III, Texas Constitution, by adding Section 7a,
as follows: 

Sec.  7a.  (a)  Provides that a person is ineligible to be elected to the
house of representatives if, on the date of the election, the person has
served as a member of the house during all or part of four regular
sessions of the legislature. 

(b)  Provides that a person is ineligible to be elected to the senate if,
on the date of the election, the person has served as a member of the
senate during all or part of four regular sessions of the legislature. 

(c)  Provides that legislative service before the legislature convenes in
regular session in 1997 is not considered in determining whether a person
is disqualified from election to office. 

SECTION 2. Amends Article IV, Texas Constitution, by adding Section 27, as
follows: 

Sec. 27.  (a)  Provides that a person is ineligible to be elected to an
office in the executive department of state government that is filled by
statewide election if the person has twice previously been elected at a
statewide election to serve for a full term in the same office. 

(b)  Provides that this section applies to an office in the executive
department of state government without regard to whether the office is
listed under Section 1. 

(c)  Provides that separate elective positions on the governing board of a
state agency are considered to be the same office.   

(d)  Provides that election to office before January 1, 1996, is not
considered in determining whether a person is eligible to be elected to
the same office. 

SECTION 3. Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted
to the voters at an  election to be held November 4, 1997.  Sets forth the
required language for the ballot.