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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to provide for the governor's |
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and lieutenant governor's terms of office to begin at 10 a.m. on the |
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day the regular legislative session convenes. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 4, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 4. The Governor elected at the general election in 2018 |
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[1974], and thereafter, shall be installed at 10 a.m. on the day set |
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by law for the convening of the regular session of the legislature |
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[first Tuesday after the organization of the Legislature, or as
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soon thereafter as practicable,] and shall hold [his] office for |
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the term of four years, or until a [his] successor shall be duly |
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installed. The Governor [He] shall be at least thirty years of age, |
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a citizen of the United States, and shall have resided in this State |
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at least five years immediately preceding the [his] election. |
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SECTION 2. Section 16(a), Article IV, Texas Constitution, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) There shall also be a Lieutenant Governor, who shall be |
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chosen at every election for Governor by the same voters, in the |
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same manner, [continue in office for the same time,] and possess the |
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same qualifications. The voters shall distinguish for whom they |
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vote as Governor and for whom as Lieutenant Governor. The |
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Lieutenant Governor shall hold office for a term of four years. The |
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Lieutenant Governor shall take office following the election, at 10 |
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a.m. on the day set by law for the convening of the regular session |
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of the legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of |
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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, providing for the governor's and lieutenant |
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governor's terms of office to begin the day the regular legislative |
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session convenes. |
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(b) The amendments to Sections 4 and 16(a), Article IV, of |
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this constitution apply to a person elected to the office of |
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governor or lieutenant governor for a term beginning on or after |
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January 1, 2019. |
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(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 4. (a) This proposed constitutional amendment |
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shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November |
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3, 2015, only if the secretary of state certifies that an enactment |
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of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session: |
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(1) provides for the canvass of election returns for |
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the offices of governor and lieutenant governor by the attorney |
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general; and |
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(2) was not vetoed by the governor and becomes law |
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contingent on adoption of this constitutional amendment by the |
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voters. |
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(b) If the secretary of state does not make a certification |
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under Subsection (a), this resolution has no effect. |
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(c) If the election on this amendment is held, the ballot |
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shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: |
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"The constitutional amendment to provide for the governor's and |
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lieutenant governor's terms of office to begin at 10 a.m. on the day |
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the regular legislative session convenes." |