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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 bills, proposed constitutional amendments, and other measures |
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and actions. |
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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 OTHER |
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MEASURES AND ACTIONS. (a) A vote taken by a house of the |
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legislature must be by record vote if the vote is on: |
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(1) approval of a bill; |
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(2) approval of a joint resolution proposing or |
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ratifying a constitutional amendment; |
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(3) approval of any other resolution, other than a |
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resolution of a purely ceremonial or honorary nature such as a |
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congratulatory or memorial resolution; |
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(4) the appointment or election of a legislative |
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officer or other public official; or |
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(5) the confirmation of an appointment or nomination |
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to public office. |
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(b) How each member voted on a matter 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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(c) For purposes of this section, a vote to approve a bill or |
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resolution includes a vote to: |
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(1) approve the measure on second or third reading; |
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(2) approve the measure as amended by the other house; |
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or |
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(3) adopt a conference committee report on the |
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measure. |
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(d) In enacting this section, each house of the legislature |
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is exercising its constitutional authority to determine the rules |
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of its own proceedings. In each house, this section has the effect |
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of, and is enforceable in the same manner as, a rule adopted by |
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resolution. |
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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. |