SRC-JEC C.S.S.J.R. 35 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.J.R. 35
77R12236 DRH-DBy: Wentworth
Redistricting
4/12/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, redistricting is performed during a regular session of the Texas
Legislature directly after the receipt of the numbers from the United
States decennial census.  C.S.S.J.R. 35 proposes a constitutional amendment
to require redistricting to be done during a special session after the
regular session. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 28, Article III, Texas Constitution, to prohibit
the legislature from enacting a law redistricting the state's senate,
representative, or congressional districts during the first regular session
after the publication of each United States decennial census.  Deletes text
requiring the legislature to do so.  Requires the governor, at the
conclusion of the regular session described by this section, to call the
legislature into special session, to convene not later than the 10th day
after the last day of the regular session, to enact laws to redistrict the
state's senate, representative, and congressional districts.  Prohibits
legislation on other subjects from being considered in the special session
unless designated in a proclamation by the governor.  Prohibits the special
session from exceeding 45 days in duration.  Deletes text regarding
apportionment into senatorial and representative districts.  Provides that,
in the event the legislature shall at the special session described by this
section fail to enact laws to redistrict the state's senate or
representative districts, that redistricting is required to be done by the
Legislative Redistricting Board of Texas (board).  Deletes text regarding
the session after the census.  Requires the board to assemble in the City
of Austin and, not later than the 45th day after the date of the
adjournment of the special session, provide for the redistricting of the
state. Deletes text requiring the board to redistrict within 90 days after
the regular session.  Deletes text making this amendment effective January
1, 1951.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2.  Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted
to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.  Requires the
ballot to be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition:  "The
constitutional amendment providing for the redistricting of legislative and
congressional districts at a special session following the release of the
federal decennial census." 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from the original by decreasing the limit on the length of a
special session to 45 days from 60 days.