Bill Text: TX HJR136 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Joint Resolution 136 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing that a legislator who is absent without excuse for an extended period during a legislative session vacates office and is not counted in determining a quorum of the applicable house of the legislature.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-23 - Referred to State Affairs [HJR136 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HJR136-Introduced.html

	82R12208 JSA-D

	By: Price	H.J.R. No. 136



	A JOINT RESOLUTION
	proposing a constitutional amendment providing that a legislator
	who is absent without excuse for an extended period during a
	legislative session vacates office and is not counted in
	determining a quorum of the applicable house of the legislature.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
	adding Section 23-a to read as follows:
	Sec. 23-a. (a) If a member of either house of the
	legislature is absent without an excuse granted in accordance with
	the procedures of that house for seven consecutive days in which
	that house meets during a regular or special session of the
	legislature, the member immediately vacates the member's office,
	and the resulting vacancy shall be filled as provided by Section 13
	of this article. A person who vacates office under this section may
	not continue to perform the duties of the office under Section 17,
	Article XVI, of this constitution.
	(b) For purposes of determining whether a quorum of a house
	is present under Section 10 of this article, a seat that becomes
	vacant under this section is not counted in the total membership of
	that house.
	SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
	submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011.
	The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
	proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing that a
	legislator who is absent without excuse for seven consecutive
	working days during a legislative session vacates office and is not
	counted in determining a quorum of the applicable house of the
	legislature."