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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 or committee of |
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the legislature on bills, proposed constitutional amendments, |
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amendments to bills and proposed constitutional amendments, and |
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certain other actions and to 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. RECORD VOTE ON BILLS AND OTHER MEASURES |
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REQUIRED. (a) A vote taken by a house |
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or committee of the |
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legislature must be by record vote if the vote is on: |
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(1) approval or disapproval of a bill or an amendment |
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or substitute to a bill; |
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(2) approval or disapproval of a joint resolution |
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proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment or an amendment |
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or substitute to such a joint resolution; |
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(3) the appointment or election of a legislative |
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officer or other public official; or |
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(4) 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 or in the minutes of the appropriate committee. |
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(c) The secretary of the senate or chief clerk of the house |
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of representatives, as applicable, shall promptly: |
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(1) publish each record vote required by this section, |
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including the vote of each individual member, on the public |
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Internet site maintained by or for the appropriate house in a manner |
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that is easily accessible and searchable by members of the public; |
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and |
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(2) maintain that information on the Internet site for |
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at least two years after the date the vote is taken. |
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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. |