|
|
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 AND OTHER MEASURES AND |
|
ACTIONS 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, including |
|
approval by either house on second or third reading, or an amendment |
|
or substitute to a bill; |
|
(2) approval or disapproval of a joint resolution |
|
proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment, including |
|
approval by either house on second or third reading, 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 publish each record vote |
|
required by this section, including the vote of each individual |
|
member, on the public Internet website maintained by or for the |
|
appropriate house in a manner that is easily accessible and |
|
searchable by members of the public not later than: |
|
(1) one hour after the vote is taken for a record vote |
|
of a house of the legislature; and |
|
(2) 24 hours after the vote is taken for a record vote |
|
of a legislative committee. |
|
(d) Each house of the legislature shall maintain on the |
|
Internet website information published under Subsection (c) in the |
|
manner required by Subsection (c) for at least 10 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, 2007. |