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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to change the number, method |
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of appointment, and terms of the Texas Ethics Commission members |
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and the term and selection of the presiding officer of the Texas |
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Ethics Commission. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 24a(a), (b), and (c), Article III, |
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Texas Constitution, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Texas Ethics Commission is a state agency consisting |
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of the following six [eight] members: |
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(1) three [two] members of the same political party as |
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the governor, [different political parties] appointed by the |
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governor [from a list of at least 10 names submitted by the members
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of the house of representatives from each political party required
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by law to hold a primary]; and |
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(2) three [two] members of a political party required |
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by law to hold a primary that is not the political party of the |
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governor, [different political parties] appointed by the governor |
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[from a list of at least 10 names submitted by the members of the
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senate from each political party required by law to hold a primary;
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[(3)
two members of different political parties
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives from a list
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of at least 10 names submitted by the members of the house from each
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political party required by law to hold a primary; and
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[(4)
two members of different political parties
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appointed by the lieutenant governor from a list of at least 10
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names submitted by the members of the senate from each political
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party required by law to hold a primary]. |
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(b) [The governor may reject all names on any list submitted
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under Subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section and require a new
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list to be submitted.] The position of presiding officer of the |
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commission shall rotate biennially among the members of the |
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commission who are from the same political party as the governor |
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[shall elect annually the chairman of the commission]. |
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(c) Commission [With the exception of the initial
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appointees, commission] members serve for staggered six-year |
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[four-year] terms. [Each appointing official will make one initial
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appointment for a two-year term and one initial appointment for a
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four-year term.] A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for |
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the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original |
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appointment. A member who has served for one term and any part of a |
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second term is not eligible for reappointment. |
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SECTION 2. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding the following temporary provision to read as follows: |
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TEMPORARY PROVISION. On January 1, 2012, the terms of all of |
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the members of the Texas Ethics Commission expire, and the governor |
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shall appoint two persons to terms expiring February 1, 2013, two |
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persons to terms expiring February 1, 2015, and two persons to terms |
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expiring February 1, 2017. Thereafter, members of the Texas Ethics |
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Commission serve six-year terms, as provided by Section 24a(c) of |
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this article. This temporary provision expires January 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for a |
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decrease in the size of the Texas Ethics Commission from eight to |
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six members appointed by the governor to serve six-year terms and |
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providing for the rotation of the position of presiding officer of |
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the Texas Ethics Commission." |