By Alexander                                          H.J.R. No. 78
         76R2396 JSA-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the length of the
 1-2     term of office of a member of the Texas Legislature.
 1-3           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Sections 3 and 4, Article III, Texas
 1-5     Constitution, are 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 six [four] years; but a new Senate shall
 1-8     be chosen after every apportionment, and the Senators elected after
 1-9     each apportionment shall be divided by lot into three [two]
1-10     classes.  The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be
1-11     vacated at the expiration of the first two years, [and] those of
1-12     the second class at the expiration of four years, and those of the
1-13     third class at the expiration of six years, so that one-third [one
1-14     half] of the Senators, or as near to one-third as may be, shall be
1-15     chosen biennially thereafter.
1-16           (b)  Senators shall take office following their election, on
1-17     the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the
1-18     Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years
1-19     to which elected and until their successors shall have been elected
1-20     and qualified.
1-21           (c)  Members of the Senate shall be elected to staggered
1-22     six-year terms as provided by this section as amended in 1999
1-23     beginning with the first election of Senators after the
1-24     apportionment of the Senate that occurs pursuant to the 2000
 2-1     federal decennial census.  Until that election, Senators shall be
 2-2     elected to terms as provided by this section as it existed on
 2-3     January 1, 1999.  This subsection expires January 1, 2005.
 2-4           Sec. 4.  (a)  The Members of the House of Representatives
 2-5     shall be chosen by the qualified electors for the term of four
 2-6     years; but a new House of Representatives shall be chosen after
 2-7     every apportionment, and the Members elected after each
 2-8     apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes.  The
 2-9     Members of the first class shall vacate their seats two years after
2-10     the date on which their term of office begins, and the Members of
2-11     the second class shall vacate their seats four years after the date
2-12     on which their term of office begins, so that one-half of the
2-13     Members will be elected biennially [two years].
2-14           (b)  Representatives shall take office following their
2-15     election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular
2-16     Session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full
2-17     term of years to which elected and until their successors shall
2-18     have been elected and qualified.
2-19           (c)  Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected
2-20     to terms as provided by Subsection (a) of this section beginning
2-21     with the first election of Members of the House of Representatives
2-22     after the apportionment of the House that occurs pursuant to the
2-23     2000 federal decennial census.  Until that election, Members of the
2-24     House of Representatives serve two-year terms as provided by this
2-25     section as it existed on January 1, 1999.  This subsection expires
2-26     January 1, 2005.
2-27           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 3-1     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
 3-2     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
 3-3     following proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to provide
 3-4     for six-year terms for members of the Texas Senate and four-year
 3-5     terms for members of the Texas House of Representatives."