87R3579 MAW-D

By: Eckhardt S.J.R. No. 33

A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives to call the legislature into special session and to designate the subjects of legislation considered at certain special sessions.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 5A to read as follows:

Sec. 5A. The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives may by joint proclamation convene the legislature in special session.

SECTION 2. Section 40, Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 40. (a) When the legislature is [Legislature shall be] convened in a special session authorized by Section 5A of this article or Section 8(a), Article IV, of this constitution, the legislature may not consider [there shall be no] legislation on a subject [upon subjects] other than a subject [those] designated in the proclamation [of the Governor] calling the [such] session, [or] presented to the legislature [them] by the governor, or presented to the legislature jointly by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) No special [Governor; and no such] session shall be of longer duration than thirty days.

SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives to call the legislature into special session and to designate the subjects of legislation considered at certain special sessions."