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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment extending the length of the |
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terms of members of the legislature. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 3. (a) The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified |
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voters for the term of six [four] years. |
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(b) Senators serve staggered terms, with one-third or as |
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near as possible to one-third of the Senators elected every two |
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years [; but a new Senate shall be chosen after every apportionment,
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and the Senators elected after each apportionment shall be divided
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by lot into two classes. The seats of the Senators of the first
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class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and
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those of the second class at the expiration of four years, so that
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one half of the Senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter]. |
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(c) Senators shall take office following their election, on |
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the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the |
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Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years |
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to which elected. |
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SECTION 2. Section 4, Article III, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 4. (a) The Members of the House of Representatives |
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shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the term of four [two] |
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years. |
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(b) Representatives serve staggered terms, with one-half or |
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as near as possible to one-half of the Representatives elected |
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every two years. |
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(c) Representatives shall take office following their |
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election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular |
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Session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full |
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term of years to which elected. |
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SECTION 3. 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, extending the length of the terms of members |
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of the legislature. This temporary provision expires December 31, |
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2023. |
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(b) The terms of all members of the senate of the 84th |
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Legislature expire on the day set by law for the convening of the |
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regular session of the legislature in 2017. |
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(c) During the regular session of the 85th Legislature, the |
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senate district numbers shall be divided into three classes, with |
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10 senate district numbers in the first class, 10 senate district |
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numbers in the second class, and 11 senate district numbers in the |
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third class. The senators shall draw lots to determine the class to |
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which the senate district number each senator represents belongs; |
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but if there is no senator representing a senate district number, |
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the secretary of the senate shall draw a lot for that senate |
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district number. The terms of the senators representing senate |
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district numbers in the first class expire on the day set by law for |
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the convening of the regular session of the legislature in 2019, the |
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terms of the senators representing senate district numbers in the |
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second class expire on the day set by law for the convening of the |
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regular session of the legislature in 2021, and the terms of the |
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senators representing senate district numbers in the third class |
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expire on the day set by law for the convening of the regular |
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session of the legislature in 2023. A senator shall be elected to |
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represent a senate district number for a term of six years following |
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the initial term for that senate district number as provided by this |
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subsection. |
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(d) During the regular session of the 85th Legislature, the |
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house of representatives district numbers shall be divided into two |
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classes, with 75 house district numbers in the first class and 75 |
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house district numbers in the second class. The representatives |
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shall draw lots to determine the class to which the house district |
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number each representative represents belongs; but if there is no |
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representative representing a house district number, the chief |
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clerk of the house of representatives shall draw a lot for that |
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house district number. The terms of the representatives |
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representing house district numbers in the first class expire on |
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the day set by law for the convening of the regular session of the |
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legislature in 2019 and the terms of the representatives |
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representing house district numbers in the second class expire on |
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the day set by law for the convening of the regular session of the |
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legislature in 2021. A representative shall be elected to represent |
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a house district number for a term of four years following the |
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initial term for that house district number as provided by this |
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subsection. |
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SECTION 4. 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 extending the length |
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of the terms of members of the legislature." |