76R9776 JRD-D                          
         By Merritt                                            H.J.R. No. 85
         Substitute the following for H.J.R. No. 85:
         By Merritt                                        C.S.H.J.R. No. 85
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to provide that a railroad
 1-2     commissioner is ineligible to become a candidate for another public
 1-3     office during the term for which the railroad commissioner is
 1-4     elected or appointed.
 1-5           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 30(b), Article XVI, Texas Constitution,
 1-7     is amended to read as follows:
 1-8           (b)  When a Railroad Commission is created by law it shall be
 1-9     composed of three Commissioners who shall be elected by the people
1-10     at a general election for State officers, and their terms of office
1-11     shall be six years.  Railroad Commissioners first elected after
1-12     this amendment goes into effect shall hold office as follows:  One
1-13     shall serve two years, and one four years, and one six years;
1-14     their terms to be decided by lot immediately after they shall have
1-15     qualified.  And one Railroad Commissioner shall be elected every
1-16     two years thereafter.  In case of vacancy in said office the
1-17     Governor of the State shall fill said vacancy by appointment until
1-18     the next general election.  A Commissioner is ineligible during the
1-19     term for which the Commissioner is elected or appointed to become a
1-20     candidate in any general, special, or primary election for any
1-21     other office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the
1-22     United States.
1-23           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
1-24     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
 2-1     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
 2-2     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to provide that a
 2-3     railroad commissioner is ineligible to become a candidate for
 2-4     another public office during the term for which the railroad
 2-5     commissioner is elected or appointed."