80R1032 JSA-D
 
  By: Goolsby H.B. No. 108
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring a record vote by each house of the legislature
on bills, proposed constitutional amendments, and other measures
and actions.
       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.  REQUIRED RECORD VOTE ON BILLS AND OTHER
MEASURES AND ACTIONS. (a) A vote taken by a house of the
legislature must be by record vote if the vote is on:
             (1)  approval of a bill;
             (2)  approval of a joint resolution proposing or
ratifying a constitutional amendment;
             (3)  approval of any other resolution, other than a
resolution of a purely ceremonial or honorary nature such as a
congratulatory or memorial resolution;
             (4)  the appointment or election of a legislative
officer or other public official; or
             (5)  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.
       (c)  For purposes of this section, a vote to approve a bill or
resolution includes a vote to:
             (1)  approve the measure on second or third reading;
             (2)  approve the measure as amended by the other house;
or
             (3)  adopt a conference committee report on the
measure.
       (d)  In enacting this section, each house of the legislature
is exercising its constitutional authority to determine the rules
of its own proceedings. In each house, this section has the effect
of, and is enforceable in the same manner as, a rule adopted by
resolution.
       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, 2007.