79R5314 JSA-D

By:  Naishtat                                                     H.B. No. 3078



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring a record vote by each house or committee of 
the legislature on bills, proposed constitutional amendments, 
amendments to bills and proposed constitutional amendments, and 
certain other actions and to public notice of the record vote.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 301.035 to read as follows:
	Sec. 301.035.  RECORD VOTE ON BILLS REQUIRED.  (a)  A vote 
taken by a house or committee of the legislature must be by record 
vote if the vote is on:
		(1)  approval or disapproval of a bill or an amendment 
or substitute to a bill;
		(2)  approval or disapproval of a joint resolution 
proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment or an amendment 
or substitute to such a joint resolution;
		(3)  the appointment or election of a legislative 
officer or other public official; or
		(4)  the confirmation of an appointment or nomination 
to public office.
	(b)  How each member voted on a matter described by 
Subsection (a) shall be recorded in the journal of the appropriate 
house or in the minutes of the appropriate committee.
	(c)  The secretary of the senate or chief clerk of the house 
of representatives, as applicable, shall promptly:
		(1)  publish each record vote required by this section, 
including the vote of each individual member, on the public 
Internet site maintained by or for the appropriate house in a manner 
that is easily accessible and searchable by members of the public; 
and
		(2)  maintain that information on the Internet site for 
at least two years after the date the vote is taken.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.