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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, and |
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amendments to bills and proposed constitutional amendments. |
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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 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 on second or |
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third reading or of an amendment or substitute to a bill on second |
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or third reading; or |
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(2) approval or disapproval of a joint resolution |
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proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment on second or |
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third reading or of an amendment or substitute to such a joint |
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resolution on second or third reading. |
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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: |
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(1) promptly publish each record vote required by this |
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section, including the vote of each individual member, on the |
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public Internet website maintained by or for the appropriate house |
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in a manner that is easily accessible and searchable by members of |
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the public; and |
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(2) permanently maintain that information on the |
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Internet website. |
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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. The requirements of this section are |
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cumulative of any other requirements of law or rule regarding the |
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recording or publication of votes taken by a house or committee of |
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the legislature. In each house, this section has the effect of, and |
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is enforceable in the same manner as, a rule adopted by 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, 2009. |