Bill Text: TX HJR123 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment extending the length of the terms of members of the legislature.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Referred to State Affairs [HJR123 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HJR123-Introduced.html

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84R9931 BEF-F
By: Simmons H.J.R. No. 123

A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment extending the length of the
terms of members of the legislature.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3. (a) The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified
voters for the term of six [four] years.
(b) Senators serve staggered terms, with one-third or as
near as possible to one-third of the Senators elected every two
years [; but a new Senate shall be chosen after every apportionment,
and the Senators elected after each apportionment shall be divided
by lot into two classes. The seats of the Senators of the first
class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and
those of the second class at the expiration of four years, so that
one half of the Senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter].
(c) Senators shall take office following their election, on
the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the
Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years
to which elected.
SECTION 2. Section 4, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4. (a) The Members of the House of Representatives
shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the term of four [two]
years.
(b) Representatives serve staggered terms, with one-half or
as near as possible to one-half of the Representatives elected
every two years.
(c) Representatives shall take office following their
election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular
Session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full
term of years to which elected.
SECTION 3. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2015, extending the length of the terms of members
of the legislature. This temporary provision expires December 31,
2023.
(b) The terms of all members of the senate of the 84th
Legislature expire on the day set by law for the convening of the
regular session of the legislature in 2017.
(c) During the regular session of the 85th Legislature, the
senate district numbers shall be divided into three classes, with
10 senate district numbers in the first class, 10 senate district
numbers in the second class, and 11 senate district numbers in the
third class. The senators shall draw lots to determine the class to
which the senate district number each senator represents belongs;
but if there is no senator representing a senate district number,
the secretary of the senate shall draw a lot for that senate
district number. The terms of the senators representing senate
district numbers in the first class expire on the day set by law for
the convening of the regular session of the legislature in 2019, the
terms of the senators representing senate district numbers in the
second class expire on the day set by law for the convening of the
regular session of the legislature in 2021, and the terms of the
senators representing senate district numbers in the third class
expire on the day set by law for the convening of the regular
session of the legislature in 2023. A senator shall be elected to
represent a senate district number for a term of six years following
the initial term for that senate district number as provided by this
subsection.
(d) During the regular session of the 85th Legislature, the
house of representatives district numbers shall be divided into two
classes, with 75 house district numbers in the first class and 75
house district numbers in the second class. The representatives
shall draw lots to determine the class to which the house district
number each representative represents belongs; but if there is no
representative representing a house district number, the chief
clerk of the house of representatives shall draw a lot for that
house district number. The terms of the representatives
representing house district numbers in the first class expire on
the day set by law for the convening of the regular session of the
legislature in 2019 and the terms of the representatives
representing house district numbers in the second class expire on
the day set by law for the convening of the regular session of the
legislature in 2021. A representative shall be elected to represent
a house district number for a term of four years following the
initial term for that house district number as provided by this
subsection.
SECTION 4. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment extending the length
of the terms of members of the legislature."