78R6742 MTB-D

By:  West                                                       H.J.R. No. 73 



A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment to provide that the Railroad 
Commission of Texas is governed by a five-member commission, two of 
whom are appointed by the governor.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Section 30(b), Article XVI, Texas Constitution, 
is amended to read as follows:
	(b)  When a Railroad Commission is created by law it shall be 
composed of five [three] Commissioners.  Three of the Commissioners
[who] shall be elected by the people at a general election for State 
officers and two of the Commissioners shall be appointed by the 
Governor. Their[, and their] terms of office shall be for six years.  
And one or two Railroad Commissioners [Commissioner] shall be 
elected or appointed every two years.  In case of vacancy in an 
elected position [said office] the Governor of the State shall fill 
said vacancy by appointment until the next general election.
	SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to 
the Texas Constitution:
	TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a)  This temporary provision applies 
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 78th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 2003, providing that the Railroad Commission of 
Texas will be governed by a five-member commission consisting of 
three elected commissioners and two appointed commissioners 
instead of an elected three-member commission.
	(b)  The first two railroad commissioners appointed under 
the amendment shall be appointed by the governor to serve terms that 
expire January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2009, respectively.
	(c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2009.                  
	SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003.  
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to provide that the 
Railroad Commission of Texas will be governed by a five-member 
commission consisting of three elected commissioners and two 
commissioners appointed by the governor instead of an elected 
three-member commission."