By Thompson                                           H.J.R. No. 22
         76R1271 DB-F                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment granting the supreme court
 1-2     jurisdiction to answer questions of law certified from the court of
 1-3     criminal appeals and granting the court of criminal appeals
 1-4     jurisdiction to answer questions of law certified from the supreme
 1-5     court.
 1-6           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-7           SECTION 1.  Section 3-c, Article V, Texas Constitution, is
 1-8     amended to read as follows:
 1-9           Sec. 3-c.   (a)  The supreme court and the court of criminal
1-10     appeals have jurisdiction to answer questions of state law
1-11     certified from a federal appellate court.
1-12           (b)  The supreme court has jurisdiction to answer questions
1-13     of law, other than criminal law, certified from the court of
1-14     criminal appeals.
1-15           (c)  The court of criminal appeals has jurisdiction to answer
1-16     questions of criminal law certified from the supreme court.
1-17           (d)  The supreme court and the court of criminal appeals
1-18     shall promulgate rules of procedure relating to the review of those
1-19     questions.
1-20           SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to the
1-21     Texas Constitution:
1-22           TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a)  This temporary provision applies
1-23     to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 76th Legislature,
1-24     Regular Session, 1999, granting the supreme court jurisdiction to
 2-1     answer questions of law certified from the court of criminal
 2-2     appeals and granting the court of criminal appeals jurisdiction to
 2-3     answer questions of law certified from the supreme court.
 2-4           (b)  The amendment takes effect January 1, 2000.
 2-5           (c)  This temporary provision expires January  2, 2000.
 2-6           SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 2-7     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
 2-8     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
 2-9     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment granting the supreme
2-10     court jurisdiction to answer questions of law certified from the
2-11     court of criminal appeals and granting the court of criminal
2-12     appeals jurisdiction to answer questions of law certified from the
2-13     supreme court."