82R13262 TJB-F
 
  By: Rodriguez S.J.R. No. 43
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment to establish certain
  principles and procedures for the drawing of congressional
  districts.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
  adding Section 28-a to read as follows:
         Sec. 28-a.  (a)  The legislature's authority established by
  Section 1 of this article includes the authority to enact
  congressional redistricting plans for this state following a
  federal decennial census.  When enacting a congressional plan, the
  legislature shall comply with the following principles to the
  extent practicable and authorized by law:
               (1)  districts must keep intact identifiable
  communities of interest defined by social, economic, racial,
  ethnic, cultural, industrial, commercial, or geographic
  commonalities;
               (2)  districts must respect the integrity of the
  state's basic geographical regions;
               (3)  districts must be geographically compact and
  composed of convenient contiguous territory;
               (4)  districts must be coterminous with the boundaries
  of counties and municipalities and not unnecessarily divide
  counties or municipalities;
               (5)  districts must be composed solely of undivided
  census tracts;
               (6)  districts may not be drawn based on partisan
  political considerations or with intent to favor or disfavor any
  specific person, political party, or other organization;
               (7)  districts must be as nearly equal in population as
  practicable and feasible in accordance with these principles; and
               (8)  redistricting plans must comply with state and
  federal constitutional requirements.
         (b)  The Supreme Court of Texas has original jurisdiction of
  a legal challenge to a congressional redistricting plan enacted by
  the legislature.
         (c)  The legislature may not redistrict this state's
  congressional districts more than once following each federal
  decennial census except to replace a plan ordered by a court with a
  plan enacted by the legislature.
         SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011.
  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment to establish fair
  redistricting principles and procedures for the drawing of
  congressional districts for the State of Texas."