By Barrientos S.J.R. No. 46
75R5210 JSA-D
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the election of
1-2 state senators.
1-3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 3. (a) The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified
1-7 electors for the term of four years. [;]
1-8 (b) A [but a] new Senate shall be chosen after every
1-9 apportionment, and the Senators elected after each apportionment
1-10 shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats of the
1-11 Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of
1-12 the first two years, and those of the second class at the
1-13 expiration of four years, so that one half of the Senators shall be
1-14 chosen biennially thereafter.
1-15 (c) Senators shall take office following their election, on
1-16 the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the
1-17 Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years
1-18 to which elected and until their successors shall have been elected
1-19 and qualified.
1-20 (d) This subsection applies beginning with the election of
1-21 Senators in 1998. Notwithstanding Subsection (b) of this section,
1-22 if an apportionment is adopted by the Legislature for the election
1-23 of Senators in 1998 and the Senate districts established by that
1-24 apportionment are the same as the districts established by the
2-1 apportionment under which Senators were elected in 1996, this
2-2 section does not require the election of a new Senate in 1998 or at
2-3 a subsequent election using the same apportionment or the same
2-4 Senate districts, and the staggered terms established for the
2-5 Senators elected in 1994 and subsequent elections remain in effect
2-6 for the 1998 and subsequent elections until an apportionment is
2-7 made that changes the districts used to elect Senators in 1996 and
2-8 1998. This subsection expires January 1, 2002.
2-9 SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-10 submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 4,
2-11 1997. The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or
2-12 against the following proposition: "The constitutional amendment
2-13 adding a temporary provision to prevent the interruption of the
2-14 full terms of the members of the Texas Senate as long as no changes
2-15 are made to senate districts before the next federal decennial
2-16 census."