By Merritt H.B. No. 3104
76R6328 JRD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the ineligibility of a railroad commissioner to become
1-3 a candidate for another public office.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Article 6447, Revised Statutes, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Art. 6447. THE COMMISSION. Election.--The Railroad
1-8 Commission of Texas shall be composed of three members, one of whom
1-9 shall be elected biennially at each general election for a term of
1-10 six years.
1-11 Qualifications.--The members shall be resident citizens of
1-12 this State, and qualified voters under the Constitution and laws,
1-13 and not less than twenty-five years of age. No member shall be
1-14 directly or indirectly interested in any railroad, or in any stock,
1-15 bond, mortgage, security, or earnings of any railroad, and should a
1-16 member voluntarily become so interested his office shall become
1-17 vacant, or should he become so interested otherwise than
1-18 voluntarily, he shall within a reasonable time divest himself of
1-19 such interest, failing to do this, his office shall become vacant.
1-20 Shall hold no other office, etc.--No commissioner shall hold
1-21 any other office of any character, while such commissioner, nor
1-22 engage in any occupation or business inconsistent with his duties
1-23 as such commissioner. A commissioner is ineligible during the term
1-24 for which the commissioner is elected or appointed to become a
2-1 candidate in any general, special, or primary election for any
2-2 other office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the
2-3 United States.
2-4 Oath, etc.--Before entering upon the duties of his office,
2-5 each commissioner shall take and subscribe to the official oath and
2-6 shall in addition thereto, swear that he is not directly or
2-7 indirectly interested in any railroad, nor in the bonds, stock,
2-8 mortgages, securities, contracts, or earnings of any railroad, and
2-9 that he will to the best of his ability faithfully and justly
2-10 execute and enforce the provisions of this title, and all laws of
2-11 this State concerning railroads, which oath shall be filed with the
2-12 Secretary of State.
2-13 Organization.--The commissioners shall elect one of their
2-14 number chairman. They may make all rules necessary for their
2-15 government and proceedings. They shall be known collectively as
2-16 the "Railroad Commission of Texas," and shall have a seal, a star
2-17 of five points with the words "Railroad Commission of Texas"
2-18 engraved thereon. They shall be furnished necessary furniture,
2-19 stationery, supplies and all necessary expenses, to be paid for on
2-20 the order of the Governor.
2-21 Expenses.--The Commissioners shall receive from the State
2-22 their necessary traveling expenses while traveling on the business
2-23 of the Commission, which shall include the cost only of
2-24 transportation while traveling on business for the Commission, upon
2-25 an itemized statement thereof, sworn to by the party who incurred
2-26 the expense, and approved by the Commission. Employees of the
2-27 Commission are entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in
3-1 traveling on the business of the Commission as provided by the
3-2 General Appropriations Act.
3-3 Sessions.--The Commission may hold its sessions at any place
3-4 in this State when deemed necessary.
3-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-6 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.