Bill Text: TX HJR31 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment to require the attorney general to be licensed and eligible to practice law in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-03 - Referred to State Affairs [HJR31 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HJR31-Introduced.html

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84R1788 AAF-D
By: González H.J.R. No. 31

A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to require the attorney
general to be licensed and eligible to practice law in this state.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 22, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 22. (a) The Attorney General shall represent the
State in all suits and pleas in the Supreme Court of the State in
which the State may be a party, and shall especially inquire into
the charter rights of all private corporations, and from time to
time, in the name of the State, take such action in the courts as may
be proper and necessary to prevent any private corporation from
exercising any power or demanding or collecting any species of
taxes, tolls, freight or wharfage not authorized by law. The
Attorney General [He] shall, whenever sufficient cause exists, seek
a judicial forfeiture of such charters, unless otherwise expressly
directed by law, and give legal advice in writing to the Governor
and other executive officers, when requested by them, and perform
such other duties as may be required by law.
(b) To be eligible to serve in the office of Attorney
General, a person must be licensed and eligible to practice law in
this state.
SECTION 2. 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, requiring the attorney general to be
licensed and eligible to practice law in this state.
(b) A person who on December 31, 2015, does not meet the
qualifications to serve in the office of attorney general under
Section 22(b), Article IV, of this constitution, as added by the
amendment, is removed from office on that date. If the office of
attorney general becomes vacant as a result of this temporary
provision, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided by
this constitution and general law.
(c) This temporary provision expires December 31, 2016.
SECTION 3. 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 requiring the attorney
general to be licensed and eligible to practice law in this state."