HBA-JLV, SEP H.J.R. 20 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.J.R. 20 By: Keffer State Affairs 2/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Constitution provides that the Texas House of Representatives consist of 150 members. Current 2000 census data indicates that the population of Texas is roughly 21 million, with a representation ratio of approximately 140,000 to one. As the population increases in Texas, there will be a growing disproportion between the number of citizens and their chosen representatives. As proposed, House Joint Resolution 20 requires the submission to the voters of a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the number of members of the Texas House of Representatives. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Joint Resolution 20 amends the Texas Constitution to authorize the legislature to increase the number of members of the Texas House of Representatives by no more than five after publication of each United States decennial census with the number of members not to exceed 200. An increase in the number of house members applies to each apportionment of the house that occurs after the publication of the decennial census. The bill prohibits the legislature from increasing the number of house members before the publication of the decennial census for the year 2010, a provision that expires January 1, 2013. FOR ELECTION This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.