By Maxey                                              H.J.R. No. 63
         76R3130 DRH-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to remove restrictions on the
 1-2     types of voting methods that may be used to elect the governing
 1-3     body of a municipality.
 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 11, Article XI, Texas Constitution, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 11.  A Home Rule City may provide by charter or charter
 1-8     amendment, and a city, town or village operating under the general
 1-9     laws may provide by majority vote of the qualified voters voting at
1-10     an election called for that purpose, for a longer term of office
1-11     than two (2) years for its officers, either elective or appointive,
1-12     or both, but not to exceed four (4) years; provided, however, that
1-13     tenure under Civil Service shall not be affected hereby.
1-14           Provided, however, if any of such officers, elective or
1-15     appointive, shall announce their candidacy, or shall in fact become
1-16     a candidate, in any general, special or primary election, for any
1-17     office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the
1-18     United States other than the office then held, at any time when the
1-19     unexpired term of the office then held shall exceed one (1) year,
1-20     such announcement or such candidacy shall constitute an automatic
1-21     resignation of the office then held, and the vacancy thereby
1-22     created shall be filled pursuant to law in the same manner as other
1-23     vacancies for such office are filled.
1-24           A municipality so providing a term exceeding two (2) years
 2-1     but not exceeding four (4) years for any of its non-civil service
 2-2     officers must fill [elect all of the members of its governing body
 2-3     by majority vote of the qualified voters in such municipality, and]
 2-4     any vacancy or vacancies occurring on the [such] governing body of
 2-5     the municipality [shall not be filled by appointment but must be
 2-6     filled] by [majority] vote of the qualified voters at a special
 2-7     election called for such purpose within one hundred and twenty
 2-8     (120) days after such vacancy or vacancies occur.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-10     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
2-11     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-12     proposition: "The constitutional amendment to remove restrictions
2-13     on the types of voting methods that may be used to elect the
2-14     governing body of a municipality."