RESOLUTION ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 52

By: Campbell

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties point out that the 1876 Texas Constitution required certain statewide elected officials to reside in the capital of Texas and that this requirement has not changed since that constitution was adopted. The parties note that advances in transportation and technology have rendered this requirement obsolete and that it is no longer necessary for an official to reside in the capital. These parties assert that removing this requirement will allow greater flexibility for statewide elected officials and reduce the burden this requirement places on the officials and their families. S.J.R. 52 seeks to remove this requirement from the Texas Constitution.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 52 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to remove the requirement that each of the following elected state officials reside at the state capital during the official's continuance in office: the comptroller of public accounts, the commissioner of the General Land Office, the attorney general, and any statutory state officer who is elected by the electorate of Texas at large.

ELECTION DATE

The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.