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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to require the attorney |
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general to be licensed and eligible to practice law in this state. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 22, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22. (a) The Attorney General shall represent the |
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State in all suits and pleas in the Supreme Court of the State in |
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which the State may be a party, and shall especially inquire into |
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the charter rights of all private corporations, and from time to |
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time, in the name of the State, take such action in the courts as may |
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be proper and necessary to prevent any private corporation from |
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exercising any power or demanding or collecting any species of |
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taxes, tolls, freight or wharfage not authorized by law. The |
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Attorney General [He] shall, whenever sufficient cause exists, seek |
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a judicial forfeiture of such charters, unless otherwise expressly |
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directed by law, and give legal advice in writing to the Governor |
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and other executive officers, when requested by them, and perform |
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such other duties as may be required by law. |
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(b) To be eligible to serve in the office of Attorney |
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General, a person must be licensed and eligible to practice law in |
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this state. |
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SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to |
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the Texas Constitution: |
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TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies |
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to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2015, requiring the attorney general to be |
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licensed and eligible to practice law in this state. |
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(b) A person who on December 31, 2015, does not meet the |
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qualifications to serve in the office of attorney general under |
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Section 22(b), Article IV, of this constitution, as added by the |
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amendment, is removed from office on that date. If the office of |
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attorney general becomes vacant as a result of this temporary |
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provision, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided by |
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this constitution and general law. |
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(c) This temporary provision expires December 31, 2016. |
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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 3, 2015. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the attorney |
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general to be licensed and eligible to practice law in this state." |