1-1     By:  Dutton (Senate Sponsor - Ellis)                  H.J.R. No. 55

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 1997;

 1-3     April 18, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on

 1-4     Jurisprudence; May 18, 1997, reported favorably by the following

 1-5     vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                           HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-7     proposing a constitutional amendment relating to a deadline for

 1-8     supreme court action on a motion for rehearing.

 1-9           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-10           SECTION 1.  Section 31, Article V, Texas Constitution, is

1-11     amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

1-12           (d)  Notwithstanding Section 1, Article II, of this

1-13     constitution and any other provision of this constitution, if the

1-14     supreme court does not act on  a motion for rehearing before the

1-15     180th day after the date on which the motion is filed, the motion

1-16     is denied.

1-17           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

1-18     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

1-19     The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against

1-20     the proposition: "The constitutional amendment to establish a

1-21     deadline for supreme court action on a motion for rehearing."

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