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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment providing that a legislator |
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who is absent without excuse for an extended period during a |
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legislative session vacates office and is not counted in |
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determining a quorum of the applicable house of the legislature. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 23-a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 23-a. (a) If a member of either house of the |
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legislature is absent without an excuse granted in accordance with |
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the procedures of that house for seven consecutive days in which |
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that house meets during a regular or special session of the |
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legislature, the member immediately vacates the member's office, |
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and the resulting vacancy shall be filled as provided by Section 13 |
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of this article. A person who vacates office under this section may |
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not continue to perform the duties of the office under Section 17, |
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Article XVI, of this constitution. |
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(b) For purposes of determining whether a quorum of a house |
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is present under Section 10 of this article, a seat that becomes |
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vacant under this section is not counted in the total membership of |
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that house. |
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SECTION 2. 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 permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing that a |
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legislator who is absent without excuse for seven consecutive |
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working days during a legislative session vacates office and is not |
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counted in determining a quorum of the applicable house of the |
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legislature." |