By Wilson H.J.R. No. 29
75R1932 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, Texas Constitution, is amended by
1-5 adding Section 3 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 3. (a) When the legislature convenes in regular
1-7 session in January 1999, 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, 1999.
1-14 (c) The members of the 76th Legislature shall be convened as
1-15 a constitutional convention at noon on the second Tuesday in
1-16 January 2000. The lieutenant governor shall preside until a
1-17 presiding officer of the convention is elected. The convention
1-18 shall elect other officers it determines necessary, adopt temporary
1-19 and permanent rules, and publish a journal of its proceedings. A
1-20 person elected to fill a vacancy in the 76th 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 presiding officer
2-9 or by a person authorized by the presiding officer in writing to
2-10 sign them.
2-11 (e) The convention by resolution adopted on the vote of at
2-12 least two-thirds of its members may submit for a vote of the
2-13 qualified electors of this state a new constitution, which may
2-14 contain alternative articles or sections, or may submit revisions
2-15 of the existing constitution, which may contain alternative
2-16 articles or sections. The convention may propose a new or revised
2-17 constitution as a single proposal or as more than one proposal
2-18 containing separate portions of a new or revised constitution.
2-19 Each resolution shall specify the date of the election, the form of
2-20 the ballots, and the method of publicizing the proposals to be
2-21 voted on. To be adopted, each proposal must receive the favorable
2-22 vote of a majority of those voting on the proposal. The conduct of
2-23 the election, the canvassing of the votes, and the reporting of the
2-24 returns shall be as provided for elections under Section 1 of this
2-25 article.
2-26 (f) The convention may be dissolved by resolution adopted on
2-27 the vote of at least two-thirds of its members; but it is
3-1 automatically dissolved at 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2000, unless its
3-2 duration is extended for a period not to exceed 60 days by
3-3 resolution adopted on the vote of at least two-thirds of its
3-4 members.
3-5 (g) The convention may not propose any deletion or amendment
3-6 of Article I of this constitution as Article I exists on the date
3-7 the convention convenes, and Article I as it exists on that date
3-8 shall be retained in full, except as amended under Section 1 of
3-9 this article.
3-10 (h) This section expires January 1, 2003.
3-11 SECTION 2. Section 2, Article XVII, Texas Constitution, is
3-12 repealed.
3-13 SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
3-14 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.
3-15 The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against
3-16 the following proposition: "The constitutional amendment to
3-17 convene a constitutional convention to revise the Texas
3-18 Constitution."