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."