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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the ineligibility of a railroad commissioner to become |
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a candidate for another public office. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 6447, Revised Statutes, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Art. 6447. THE COMMISSION. Election.--The Railroad |
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Commission of Texas shall be composed of three members, one of whom |
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shall be elected biennially at each general election for a term of |
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six years. |
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Qualifications.--The members shall be resident citizens of |
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this State, and qualified voters under the Constitution and laws, |
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and not less than twenty-five years of age. The members are subject |
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to the provisions of Chapter 572, Government Code, that apply to |
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elected officers, including the requirements governing personal |
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financial statements, standards of conduct, and conflicts of |
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interest. |
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No candidacy for other office during term.--A commissioner is |
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ineligible during the term for which the commissioner is elected or |
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appointed to become a candidate in any general, special, or primary |
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election for any other office of profit or trust under the laws of |
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this State or the United States. The provision in this paragraph |
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regarding ineligibility for other elective office does not apply to |
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an office for which the federal or state constitution prescribes |
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exclusive eligibility requirements. |
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A person must resign from the Commission before becoming a |
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candidate for any other office of profit or trust under the laws of |
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this State or the United States. |
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Oath, etc.--Before entering upon the duties of his office, |
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each commissioner shall take and subscribe to the official oath and |
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shall in addition thereto swear that he will to the best of his |
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ability faithfully and justly execute and enforce the provisions of |
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this title and all laws of this State concerning railroads, which |
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oath shall be filed with the Secretary of State. |
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Organization.--The commissioners shall elect one of their |
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number chairman. They may make all rules necessary for their |
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government and proceedings. They shall be known collectively as |
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the "Railroad Commission of Texas," and shall have a seal, a star of |
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five points with the words "Railroad Commission of Texas" engraved |
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thereon. They shall be furnished necessary furniture, stationery, |
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supplies and all necessary expenses, to be paid for on the order of |
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the Governor. |
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Expenses.--The Commissioners shall receive from the State |
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their necessary traveling expenses while traveling on the business |
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of the Commission, which shall include the cost only of |
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transportation while traveling on business for the Commission, upon |
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an itemized statement thereof, sworn to by the party who incurred |
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the expense, and approved by the Commission. Employees of the |
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Commission are entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in |
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traveling on the business of the Commission as provided by the |
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General Appropriations Act. |
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Sessions.--The Commission may hold its sessions at any place |
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in this State when deemed necessary. |
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SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |