By: Brown S.C.R. No. 85
99S1731/1
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The 123-year-old Texas Constitution is a lengthy
1-2 document that contains many provisions that are duplicative,
1-3 obsolete, archaic, and ineffective; and
1-4 WHEREAS, A revision of the constitution would clarify,
1-5 modernize, and simplify the document, allowing state government to
1-6 operate more efficiently for the people of Texas; and
1-7 WHEREAS, The public is deeply interested in any proposed
1-8 changes to the constitution, and a detailed study should be given
1-9 to each article by members of the legislature to ensure that all
1-10 changes are in the best interest of the people of Texas; now,
1-11 therefore, be it
1-12 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-13 hereby create a joint interim legislative study committee on
1-14 constitutional revision; and, be it further
1-15 RESOLVED, That the joint committee be composed of 10 members
1-16 including four members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant
1-17 governor, four members of the house of representatives appointed by
1-18 the speaker of the house of representatives, one public member
1-19 appointed by the lieutenant governor, and one public member
1-20 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and, be
1-21 it further
1-22 RESOLVED, That each member of the joint committee serve a
1-23 term beginning on the date of the member's appointment and ending
1-24 with the convening of the next regular session of the legislature
2-1 that occurs after the date of appointment; a vacancy on the
2-2 committee shall be filled by the officer who appointed the member
2-3 who vacated the position; and, be it further
2-4 RESOLVED, That the lieutenant governor shall designate a
2-5 member of the joint committee as the chair and the speaker of the
2-6 house of representatives shall designate a member as the vice
2-7 chair; and, be it further
2-8 RESOLVED, That the joint committee shall hold meetings and
2-9 public hearings at the call of the chair, employ staff, and procure
2-10 goods and services as needed to further the work of the committee;
2-11 and, be it further
2-12 RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislative Council, the senate, and
2-13 the house of representatives be authorized to provide staff support
2-14 to the joint committee on the request of the committee; and, be it
2-15 further
2-16 RESOLVED, That the joint committee have authority to issue
2-17 process as provided in Sections 301.024 through 301.027, Government
2-18 Code, and that the committee, except as modified by or pursuant to
2-19 this resolution, have all other powers and duties provided to
2-20 special committees by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code,
2-21 and the Senate and House Rules of Procedure; and, be it further
2-22 RESOLVED, That the joint committee members be reimbursed for
2-23 their necessary expenses incurred in performing committee duties,
2-24 subject to any limit provided by the General Appropriations Act;
2-25 and, be it further
2-26 RESOLVED, That the joint committee conduct a comprehensive
3-1 study of the Texas Constitution and recommend revisions to the
3-2 constitution the committee considers appropriate to:
3-3 (1) repeal, eliminate, or revise obsolete or ineffective
3-4 provisions;
3-5 (2) standardize and modernize the document's organization
3-6 and terminology;
3-7 (3) clarify ambiguous or imprecise provisions; or
3-8 (4) change state law or state policy; and, be it further
3-9 RESOLVED, That the joint committee, in performing its study
3-10 and formulating its recommendations during the period preceding the
3-11 committee's report in 2000, consider the matters covered by
3-12 Articles I, VI, XVI, and XVII of the current constitution; and, be
3-13 it further
3-14 RESOLVED, That it is desirable that subsequent legislatures
3-15 renew the authorization of the joint interim legislative study
3-16 committee on constitutional revision to enable the legislature to
3-17 address and study issues that remain unresolved on sine die
3-18 adjournment or that emerge subsequent to adjournment; it would be
3-19 beneficial for such a committee, in performing its study and
3-20 formulating its recommendations, to first consider the matters
3-21 covered by Articles II, III, IV, V, IX, X, XIV, and XV of the
3-22 current constitution and then consider the matters covered by
3-23 Articles VII, VIII, XI, and XII; and, be it further
3-24 RESOLVED, That the preceding clauses not prohibit the joint
3-25 committee from considering any matter covered by any article of the
3-26 current constitution at any time; and, be it further
4-1 RESOLVED, That not later than December 1, 2000, the joint
4-2 committee prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant
4-3 governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report
4-4 of its activities and recommendations; the report may include
4-5 specific proposals for amending or revising the constitution,
4-6 including drafts of proposed amendments or revisions, and any
4-7 explanatory or supporting materials and may present alternative
4-8 proposals on any matter; and, be it further
4-9 RESOLVED, That the joint committee be authorized to make any
4-10 additional reports the committee considers appropriate; and, be it
4-11 further
4-12 RESOLVED, That a report may include minority recommendations
4-13 or dissenting statements relating to the joint committee's
4-14 recommendations; and, be it further
4-15 RESOLVED, That copies of the reports shall be filed in the
4-16 Legislative Reference Library, with the Texas Legislative Council,
4-17 with the secretary of the senate, and with the chief clerk of the
4-18 house of representatives.