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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring a record vote by each house of the legislature |
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on final passage of a bill, resolution to propose or ratify a |
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constitutional amendment, or other nonceremonial resolution and to |
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public notice of the record vote. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 301.035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 301.035. REQUIRED RECORD VOTE ON BILLS AND CERTAIN |
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OTHER MEASURES. (a) A vote taken by a house of the legislature must |
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be by record vote if the vote is on final passage of: |
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(1) a bill; |
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(2) a joint resolution proposing or ratifying a |
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constitutional amendment; or |
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(3) any other resolution, other than a resolution of a |
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purely ceremonial or honorary nature such as a congratulatory or |
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memorial resolution. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, a vote on final passage |
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means a vote on: |
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(1) third reading; |
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(2) second reading if the applicable house suspends or |
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otherwise dispenses with the requirement for three readings; |
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(3) whether to concur in the amendments of the other |
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house; or |
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(4) whether to adopt a conference committee report. |
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(c) How each member voted on a measure described by |
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Subsection (a) shall be recorded in the journal of the appropriate |
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house. |
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(d) The secretary of the senate or chief clerk of the house |
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of representatives, as applicable, shall: |
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(1) publish each record vote required by this section, |
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including the vote of each member of the applicable house, on the |
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public Internet site maintained by or for that house; and |
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(2) maintain that information on the Internet site for |
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at least one year after the date the vote is taken. |
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(e) This section does not apply to a bill that applies only |
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to or in one identifiable district or political subdivision of this |
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state. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |