By: Shapiro S.B. No. 1836
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the authority of a foreign limited liability
1-2 partnership to transact business in this state.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 1.01, Texas Revised Partnership Act
1-5 (Article 6132b-1.01, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 1.01. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
1-8 (1) "Business" means a trade, occupation, profession,
1-9 or other commercial activity.
1-10 (2) "Capital account" means the amount of a partner's
1-11 original contribution to a partnership, which consists of cash and
1-12 the agreed value of any other contribution to the partnership,
1-13 increased by the amount of additional contributions made by that
1-14 partner and by profits credited to that partner under Section
1-15 4.01(b), and decreased by the amount of distributions to that
1-16 partner and by losses charged to that partner under Section
1-17 4.01(b).
1-18 (3) "Court" means a court and judge having
1-19 jurisdiction in the case.
1-20 (4) "Debtor in bankruptcy" means a person who is the
1-21 subject of:
2-1 (A) an order for relief under Title 11 of the
2-2 United States Code or a comparable order under a successor statute
2-3 of general application; or
2-4 (B) a comparable order under federal, [or]
2-5 state, or foreign law governing insolvency.
2-6 (5) "Distribution" means a transfer of cash or other
2-7 property from a partnership to:
2-8 (A) a partner in the partner's capacity as a
2-9 partner; or
2-10 (B) the partner's transferee.
2-11 (6) "Event of withdrawal" or "withdrawal" means an
2-12 event specified by Section 6.01(b).
2-13 (7) "Event requiring a winding up" means an event
2-14 specified by Section 8.01.
2-15 (8) "Foreign limited partnership" means a partnership
2-16 formed under the laws of another state and having as partners one
2-17 or more general partners and one or more limited partners.
2-18 (9) "Foreign limited liability partnership" means a
2-19 partnership that:
2-20 (A) is formed under laws other than the laws of
2-21 Texas; and
2-22 (B) has the status of a registered limited
2-23 liability partnership under those laws.
2-24 (10) "Majority-in-interest" means, as to all of or a
2-25 specified group of partners, partners owning more than 50 percent
3-1 of the current interest in the profits of the partnership owned by
3-2 all of the partners or by the partners in the specified group, as
3-3 appropriate.
3-4 (11) [(10)] "Partnership" means an entity created as
3-5 described by Section 2.02(a). The term includes a registered
3-6 limited liability partnership formed under Section 3.08 or under
3-7 the Texas Uniform Partnership Act (Article 6132b, Vernon's Texas
3-8 Civil Statutes) and its subsequent amendments.
3-9 (12) [(11)] "Partnership agreement" means any
3-10 agreement, written or oral, of the partners concerning a
3-11 partnership.
3-12 (13) [(12)] "Partnership interest" means a partner's
3-13 interest in a partnership, including the partner's share of profits
3-14 and losses or similar items, and the right to receive
3-15 distributions. A partnership interest does not include a partner's
3-16 right to participate in management.
3-17 (14) [(13)] "Person" includes an individual,
3-18 corporation, business trust, estate, trust, custodian, trustee,
3-19 executor, administrator, nominee, partnership (including a
3-20 registered limited liability partnership and a limited
3-21 partnership), association, limited liability company, government,
3-22 governmental subdivision, governmental agency, governmental
3-23 instrumentality, and any other legal or commercial entity, in its
3-24 own or representative capacity.
3-25 (15) [(14)] "Property" means all property, real,
4-1 personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or an interest in that
4-2 property.
4-3 (16) [(15)] "Registered limited liability partnership"
4-4 means a partnership registered under Section 3.08(b) and complying
4-5 with Sections 3.08(c) and (d)(1).
4-6 (17) [(16)] "State" means a state of the United
4-7 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
4-8 or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction
4-9 of the United States.
4-10 (18) [(17)] "Transfer" includes:
4-11 (A) an assignment;
4-12 (B) a conveyance;
4-13 (C) a lease;
4-14 (D) a mortgage;
4-15 (E) a deed;
4-16 (F) an encumbrance; and
4-17 (G) the creation of a security interest.
4-18 (19) [(18)] "Withdrawn partner" means a partner with
4-19 respect to whom an event of withdrawal has occurred. A partner
4-20 withdraws if an event of withdrawal has occurred with respect to
4-21 that partner under Section 6.01.
4-22 SECTION 2. The Texas Revised Partnership Act (Article
4-23 6132b-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) is amended by
4-24 redesignating existing Article X as Article XI and adding a new
4-25 Article X to read as follows:
5-1 ARTICLE X. FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
5-2 Sec. 10.01. LAW GOVERNING FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY
5-3 PARTNERSHIP. (a) The laws of the state under which a foreign
5-4 limited liability partnership is formed govern its organization and
5-5 internal affairs and the liability of partners for obligations of
5-6 the partnership.
5-7 (b) A foreign limited liability partnership may not be
5-8 denied a statement of foreign qualification by reason of any
5-9 difference between the laws of the state under which it is formed
5-10 and the laws of Texas.
5-11 (c) With respect to its activities in Texas, a foreign
5-12 limited liability partnership is subject to Section 3.01 as if it
5-13 were a domestic registered limited liability partnership.
5-14 Sec. 10.02. STATEMENT OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATION. (a) Before
5-15 transacting business in Texas, a foreign limited liability
5-16 partnership must file with the secretary of state a statement of
5-17 foreign qualification. The statement must contain:
5-18 (1) the name of the foreign limited liability
5-19 partnership which satisfies the requirements of the state under
5-20 whose laws it is formed and ends with "Registered Limited Liability
5-21 Partnership," "Limited Liability Partnership," "R.L.L.P.,"
5-22 "L.L.P.," "RLLP," or "LLP";
5-23 (2) the federal tax identification number of the
5-24 partnership;
5-25 (3) the state where it is formed, the date of initial
6-1 registration as a limited liability partnership under the laws of
6-2 the state of formation, and a statement that, as of the date of
6-3 filing, the foreign limited liability partnership exists as a valid
6-4 limited liability partnership under the laws of the state of its
6-5 formation;
6-6 (4) the street address of the partnership's chief
6-7 executive office and, if different, the street address of any other
6-8 office of the partnership in Texas;
6-9 (5) the address of the registered office and the name
6-10 and address of the registered agent for service of process required
6-11 to be maintained by Section 10.05;
6-12 (6) a statement that the secretary of state is
6-13 appointed the agent of the foreign limited liability partnership
6-14 for service of process under the circumstances set forth in Section
6-15 10.05(k);
6-16 (7) the number of partners at the date of the
6-17 statement; and
6-18 (8) in brief, the partnership's business.
6-19 (b) The statement of qualification must be executed by a
6-20 majority-in-interest of the partners or by one or more partners
6-21 authorized by a majority-in-interest of the partners.
6-22 (c) Two copies of the statement of foreign qualification
6-23 must be filed accompanied by a fee of $200 for each partner
6-24 resident in this state not to exceed $750.
6-25 (d) A partnership is registered as a foreign limited
7-1 liability partnership on filing a completed initial or renewal
7-2 statement of foreign qualification, in duplicate with the required
7-3 fee, or on a later date specified in the statement. A registration
7-4 is not affected by later changes in the partners of the
7-5 partnership.
7-6 (e) An initial statement of foreign qualification filed
7-7 under this subsection and registered by the secretary of state
7-8 expires one year after the date of registration or later effective
7-9 date unless earlier withdrawn or revoked or unless renewed in
7-10 accordance with Subsection (g).
7-11 (f) A registration may be withdrawn by filing in duplicate
7-12 with the secretary of state a written withdrawal notice executed by
7-13 a majority-in-interest of the partners or by one or more partners
7-14 authorized by a majority-in-interest of partners. A withdrawal
7-15 notice must include the name of the partnership, the federal tax
7-16 identification number of the partnership, the date of registration
7-17 of the partnership's last statement of foreign qualification under
7-18 this section, and a current street address of the partnership's
7-19 principal office in this state or outside this state, if
7-20 applicable. A withdrawal notice terminates the status of the
7-21 partnership as a foreign limited liability partnership as of the
7-22 date of filing the notice or a later date specified in the notice,
7-23 but not later than the expiration date under Subsection (e).
7-24 (g) An effective registration may be renewed before its
7-25 expiration by filing in duplicate with the secretary of state a
8-1 statement of foreign qualification containing current information
8-2 of the kind required in an initial statement of qualification and
8-3 the most recent date of registration of the partnership. The
8-4 renewal statement of qualification must be accompanied by a fee of
8-5 $200 for each partner resident in this state on the date of renewal
8-6 not to exceed $750. A renewal statement of foreign qualification
8-7 filed under this section continues an effective registration for
8-8 one year after the date the effective registration would otherwise
8-9 expire.
8-10 (h) The secretary of state may remove from its active
8-11 records the registration of a foreign limited liability partnership
8-12 whose registration has been withdrawn or revoked or has expired and
8-13 not been renewed.
8-14 (i) The secretary of state may revoke the filing of a
8-15 document filed under this subsection if the secretary of state
8-16 determines that the filing fee for the document was paid by an
8-17 instrument that was dishonored when presented by the state for
8-18 payment. The secretary of state shall return the document and give
8-19 notice of revocation to the filing party by regular mail. Failure
8-20 to give or receive notice does not affect an earlier filing.
8-21 (j) The secretary of state may provide forms for the
8-22 statement of foreign qualification or renewal of registration.
8-23 (k) A document filed under this subsection may be amended or
8-24 corrected by filing in duplicate with the secretary of state
8-25 articles of amendment executed by a majority-in-interest of the
9-1 partners or by one or more partners authorized by a
9-2 majority-in-interest of the partners. The articles of amendment
9-3 must contain the name of the partnership, the tax identification
9-4 number of the partnership, the identity of the document being
9-5 amended, the date on which the document being amended was filed,
9-6 the part of the document being amended, and the amendment or
9-7 correction. Two copies of the articles of amendment must be filed,
9-8 accompanied by a fee of $10 and, if the amendment increases the
9-9 number of partners, a fee of $200 for each partner resident in this
9-10 state added by amendment of the number of partners not to exceed
9-11 $750.
9-12 (l) A document filed under this subsection may be a
9-13 photographic, facsimile, or similar reproduction of a signed
9-14 document. A signature on a document filed under this section may
9-15 be a facsimile.
9-16 (m) A person commits an offense if the person signs a
9-17 document the person knows is false in any material respect with the
9-18 intent that the document be delivered on behalf of the partnership
9-19 to the secretary of state for filing. An offense under this
9-20 subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
9-21 (n) The secretary of state may adopt procedural rules on
9-22 filing documents under this section.
9-23 Sec. 10.03. EFFECT OF FAILURE TO QUALIFY. (a) A foreign
9-24 limited liability partnership transacting business in Texas may not
9-25 maintain an action, suit, or proceeding in Texas unless it has
10-1 registered in Texas and paid to the secretary of state all amounts
10-2 owing under Section 10.02.
10-3 (b) The failure of a foreign limited liability partnership
10-4 to register in Texas does not impair:
10-5 (1) the validity of a contract or act of the foreign
10-6 limited liability partnership;
10-7 (2) the right of any other party to the contract to
10-8 maintain any action, suit, or proceeding on the contract; or
10-9 (3) defense by the foreign limited liability
10-10 partnership of any action, suit, or proceeding in any Texas court.
10-11 (c) A partner of a foreign limited liability partnership is
10-12 not liable for the debts and obligations of the foreign limited
10-13 liability partnership solely because the foreign limited liability
10-14 partnership transacted business in Texas without registration.
10-15 Sec. 10.04. ACTIVITIES NOT CONSTITUTING TRANSACTING
10-16 BUSINESS. Without excluding other activities that do not
10-17 constitute transacting business in Texas, a foreign limited
10-18 liability partnership is not considered to be transacting business
10-19 in Texas for purposes of this Act because it carries on in Texas
10-20 any one or more of the following activities:
10-21 (1) maintaining or defending any action, suit, or
10-22 administrative or arbitration proceeding, effecting settlement of
10-23 the action, suit, or proceeding, or settling claims or disputes to
10-24 which it is a party;
10-25 (2) holding meetings of its partners or carrying on
11-1 other activities concerning its internal affairs;
11-2 (3) maintaining bank accounts;
11-3 (4) maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer,
11-4 exchange, and registration of partnership interests issued by it,
11-5 or appointing or maintaining trustees or depositories with relation
11-6 to ownership interests in it;
11-7 (5) effecting sales through independent contractors;
11-8 (6) creating as borrower or lender or acquiring
11-9 indebtedness or mortgages or other security interests in real or
11-10 personal property;
11-11 (7) securing or collecting debts due to it or
11-12 enforcing rights in property securing such debts;
11-13 (8) transacting business in interstate commerce;
11-14 (9) conducting an isolated transaction completed
11-15 within 30 days of the date of initiation of the transaction and not
11-16 in the course of a number of repeated similar transactions;
11-17 (10) exercising the powers of executor or
11-18 administrator of the estate of a nonresident decedent under
11-19 ancillary letters issued by a Texas court, or exercising the powers
11-20 of trustee under the will of a nonresident decedent, or under a
11-21 trust created by one or more nonresidents of Texas or by one or
11-22 more foreign corporations or limited partnerships, if the exercise
11-23 of those powers in any of these cases will not involve activities
11-24 that would be considered to constitute the transacting of business
11-25 in Texas in the case of a foreign corporation or foreign limited
12-1 partnership acting in its own right;
12-2 (11) acquiring, in transactions outside Texas or in
12-3 interstate commerce, debts secured by mortgages or liens on real or
12-4 personal property in Texas, collecting or adjusting principal and
12-5 interest payments on those debts, enforcing or adjusting rights in
12-6 property securing those debts, taking any actions necessary to
12-7 preserve and protect the interest of the mortgagee in that
12-8 security, or a combination of these transactions; or
12-9 (12) investing in or acquiring, in transactions
12-10 outside Texas, royalties and other nonoperating mineral interests,
12-11 and the execution of division orders, contracts of sale, and other
12-12 instruments incidental to the ownership of nonoperating mineral
12-13 interests.
12-14 Sec. 10.05. REGISTERED AGENT. (a) A foreign limited
12-15 liability partnership subject to this Act shall have and maintain
12-16 in Texas:
12-17 (1) a registered office, which need not be a place of
12-18 its business in Texas; and
12-19 (2) a registered agent for service of process on the
12-20 foreign limited liability partnership, which may be:
12-21 (A) an individual who is a resident of Texas and
12-22 whose business office is the same as the foreign limited liability
12-23 partnership's registered office; and
12-24 (B) a domestic corporation or a foreign
12-25 corporation that has a certificate of authority to transact
13-1 business in Texas and a business office the same as the foreign
13-2 limited liability partnership's registered office.
13-3 (b) A foreign limited liability partnership subject to this
13-4 Act may change its registered office, its registered agent, or
13-5 both, by paying the filing fee and filing with the secretary of
13-6 state a statement and a duplicate copy of the statement, that does
13-7 not need to be an executed original or a photocopy of an executed
13-8 original. The statement must contain:
13-9 (1) the name of the foreign limited liability
13-10 partnership;
13-11 (2) the street address of its registered office;
13-12 (3) the street address to which its registered office
13-13 is to be changed, if applicable;
13-14 (4) the name of its registered agent;
13-15 (5) the name of its successor registered agent, if
13-16 applicable;
13-17 (6) a provision that the street address of its
13-18 registered office and the street address of the business office of
13-19 its registered agent, as changed, will be the same; and
13-20 (7) a provision that the change was authorized by the
13-21 foreign limited liability partnership.
13-22 (c) The statement required by Subsection (b) must be
13-23 executed on behalf of the foreign limited liability partnership by
13-24 a majority-in-interest of the partners or by one or more partners
13-25 authorized by a majority-in-interest of the partners. If the
14-1 secretary of state finds that the statement conforms to this
14-2 section, the secretary of state, on receipt of all applicable
14-3 filing fees, shall file it in accordance with Section 10.02(k) as
14-4 if it were an amendment to the statement of foreign qualification.
14-5 (d) On the filing of the statement by the secretary of
14-6 state, the change of address of the registered office, the
14-7 appointment of a new registered agent, or both, as the case may be,
14-8 become effective.
14-9 (e) Filing of the statement amends the statement of foreign
14-10 qualification regarding the information required by Section
14-11 10.02(a)(5).
14-12 (f) A registered agent of a foreign limited liability
14-13 partnership may resign by giving written notice to the foreign
14-14 limited liability partnership and to the secretary of state.
14-15 Notice must be given to the foreign limited liability partnership
14-16 at its last known address and to the last known address of the
14-17 attorney or other individual at whose request the registered agent
14-18 was appointed for the foreign limited liability partnership.
14-19 Notice, together with a duplicate copy, which need not be an
14-20 executed original or a photocopy of an executed original, must be
14-21 given to the secretary of state within 10 days after the date of
14-22 mailing or delivery of the notice to the foreign limited liability
14-23 partnership and attorney or individual. The notice to the
14-24 secretary of state must include the last known address of the
14-25 foreign limited liability partnership, the statement that written
15-1 notice of resignation has been given to the foreign limited
15-2 liability partnership, and the date that the notice was given.
15-3 (g) On compliance with the requirements for giving written
15-4 notice under Subsection (f), the appointment of an agent terminates
15-5 on the 31st day after the date of receipt of the notice by the
15-6 secretary of state. If the secretary of state finds that the
15-7 written notice conforms to this section, the secretary of state
15-8 shall file it in accordance with Section 10.02(k) as if it were an
15-9 amendment to the statement of foreign qualification. A fee is not
15-10 required for the filing of a resignation under Subsection (f).
15-11 (h) The location of the registered office in Texas for a
15-12 foreign limited liability partnership may be changed from one
15-13 address to another by paying the filing fee to the secretary of
15-14 state and filing with the secretary of state a statement and a
15-15 duplicate copy, which need not be an executed original or a
15-16 photocopy of an executed original. The statement must contain:
15-17 (1) the name of the foreign limited liability
15-18 partnership represented by the registered agent;
15-19 (2) the address at which the registered agent has
15-20 maintained the registered office;
15-21 (3) the new address at which the registered agent will
15-22 maintain the registered office; and
15-23 (4) a statement that written notice of the change has
15-24 been given to the foreign limited liability partnership at least 10
15-25 days before the date of the filing.
16-1 (i) The statement required by Subsection (h) must be signed
16-2 and verified by the registered agent or, if the registered agent is
16-3 a corporation, by an office of the corporation. If the registered
16-4 agent is simultaneously filing statements for more than one foreign
16-5 limited liability partnership, each statement may contain a
16-6 facsimile signature in the execution. If the secretary of state
16-7 finds that the statement conforms to this section, the secretary of
16-8 state, on receipt of the filing fee, shall file it in accordance
16-9 with Section 10.02(k) as if it were an amendment to the statement
16-10 of foreign qualification. The address of the registered office of
16-11 the foreign limited liability partnership is changed on the filing
16-12 of the statement by the secretary of state. Filing of the
16-13 statement amends the statement of foreign qualification regarding
16-14 the information required by Section 10.02(a)(5) and no further
16-15 action is required under Section 10.02(k).
16-16 (j) Each partner and the registered agent of a foreign
16-17 limited liability partnership registered in Texas are agents of the
16-18 foreign limited liability partnership on whom may be served any
16-19 process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be
16-20 served on the foreign limited liability partnership.
16-21 (k) The secretary of state is an agent of the foreign
16-22 limited liability partnership on whom any process, notice, or
16-23 demand may be served if:
16-24 (1) a foreign limited liability partnership registered
16-25 in Texas fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in Texas;
17-1 (2) its registered agent cannot with reasonable
17-2 diligence be found at the registered office;
17-3 (3) its registration is canceled; or
17-4 (4) a foreign limited liability partnership transacts
17-5 business in Texas without having registered under Section 10.02.
17-6 (l) Service on the secretary of state of any process,
17-7 notice, or demand shall be made by delivering duplicate copies of
17-8 the process, notice, or demand to the secretary of state, assistant
17-9 secretary of state, or any clerk having charge of the corporation
17-10 department of the secretary of state's office. If any process,
17-11 notice, or demand is served on the secretary of state, the
17-12 secretary of state shall immediately forward one of the copies by
17-13 registered mail addressed to the foreign limited liability
17-14 partnership at its principal office in the state under which the
17-15 foreign limited liability partnership is formed as shown on the
17-16 statement of foreign qualification. Service had in this manner on
17-17 the secretary of state is returnable in not less than 30 days.
17-18 (m) The secretary of state shall keep a record of all
17-19 processes, notices, and demands served on the secretary of state
17-20 under this section and shall record the time of the service and the
17-21 action taken with reference to each.
17-22 (n) This section does not limit or affect the right to serve
17-23 any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be
17-24 served on a foreign limited liability partnership in another manner
17-25 permitted by law.
18-1 ARTICLE XI [X]. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
18-2 Sec. 11.01 [10.01]. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as
18-3 the "Texas Revised Partnership Act."
18-4 Sec. 11.02 [10.02]. SEVERABILITY. If a provision of this
18-5 Act or its application to a person or circumstance is held invalid,
18-6 the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of
18-7 this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or
18-8 application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are
18-9 severable.
18-10 Sec. 11.03 [10.03]. APPLICATION. (a) Before January 1,
18-11 1999. Except as provided by Subsection (b), before January 1,
18-12 1999, this Act applies only to a partnership formed:
18-13 (1) on or after January 1, 1994, unless that
18-14 partnership is continuing the business of a dissolved partnership
18-15 under Section 41, Texas Uniform Partnership Act (Article 6132b,
18-16 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and its subsequent amendments; and
18-17 (2) before January 1, 1994, that elects, as provided
18-18 by Subsection (d), to be governed by this Act.
18-19 (b) Registered Limited Liability Partnership. Section 3.08
18-20 of this Act, including the fee provisions, applies to a registered
18-21 limited liability partnership, regardless of the date of formation
18-22 and regardless of whether the partnership elects to be governed by
18-23 this Act, except that a registered limited liability partnership
18-24 formed before January 1, 1994, is subject to Sections 2, 15(2)-(4),
18-25 45-A, 45-B, and 45-C, Texas Uniform Partnership Act (Article 6132b,
19-1 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), for purposes of determining
19-2 liability for errors, omissions, negligence, incompetence, or
19-3 malfeasance occurring before January 1, 1994.
19-4 (c) After December 31, 1998. After December 31, 1998, this
19-5 Act applies to all partnerships.
19-6 (d) Voluntary Application Early. Before January 1, 1999, a
19-7 partnership formed before January 1, 1994, voluntarily may elect,
19-8 by complying with the procedures provided in its partnership
19-9 agreement for amending the partnership agreement, to adopt this
19-10 Act. The provisions of this Act relating to the liability of the
19-11 partnership's partners to third parties apply to limit those
19-12 partners' liability to a third party who had done business with the
19-13 partnership within one year preceding the partnership's election to
19-14 adopt this Act only if the partnership gives notice to the third
19-15 party of the partnership's election to adopt this Act.
19-16 Sec. 11.04 [10.04]. APPLICATION TO EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS.
19-17 (a) This Act does not impair the obligations of a contract
19-18 existing when this Act takes effect or affect an action or
19-19 proceeding begun or right accrued before this Act takes effect.
19-20 (b) A judgment against a partnership or a partner in an
19-21 action commenced before the effective date of this Act may be
19-22 enforced in the same manner as a judgment rendered before the
19-23 effective date of this Act.
19-24 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
19-25 applies to a foreign limited liability partnership affected by this
20-1 Act, regardless of the date of formation.
20-2 (b) This Act shall not affect any action or proceeding
20-3 commenced before the effective date.
20-4 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
20-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
20-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
20-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
20-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.