87R6878 JRJ-D
	By: West, Johnson	S.J.R. No. 43

	A JOINT RESOLUTION
	proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas
	Redistricting Commission and providing redistricting procedures
	for state legislative, state judicial, and congressional
	districts.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 28, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 28.  (a)  In this section:
	(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Redistricting
	Commission.
	(2)  "Majority party" means the political party with
	the most members among the combined membership of the Texas Senate
	and the Texas House of Representatives.
	(3)  "Minority party" means the political party with
	the second highest number of members among the combined membership
	of the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives.
	(b)  Following [The Legislature shall, at its first regular
	session after] the publication of each United States decennial
	census, [apportion] the state shall be apportioned into senatorial
	and representative districts, agreeable to the provisions of
	Sections 25 and 26 of this article [Article].  The legislature and
	the Texas Redistricting Commission exercise the legislative
	authority of this state to adopt redistricting plans for the
	election of the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate,
	and the members of the United States House of Representatives
	elected from this state in the manner provided by this section and
	Section 28a of this article. Districts for those legislative
	bodies may not be established or changed except as provided by this
	section and Section 28a of this article.
	(c)  The commission consists of the following seven members:
	(1)  the governor;
	(2)  the comptroller;
	(3)  the secretary of state;
	(4)  one member appointed by the speaker of the Texas
	House of Representatives;
	(5)  one member appointed by majority vote of the party
	caucus for the political party with the most members in the Texas
	House of Representatives of which the speaker of the Texas House of
	Representatives is not a member;
	(6)  one member appointed by the president of the Texas
	Senate; and
	(7)  one member appointed by majority vote of the party
	caucus for the political party with the most members in the Texas
	Senate of which the president of the Texas Senate is not a member.
	(d)  An appointed member of the commission may not be a
	current member of Congress.
	(e)  Two members of the commission serve as co-chairs.  One
	co-chair is selected by majority vote of the members of the Texas
	Senate and the Texas House of Representatives who belong to the
	majority party and one co-chair is selected by majority vote of the
	members of the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives
	who belong to the minority party.
	(f)  Except as otherwise provided by this section or Section
	28a of this article, a simple majority vote of the commission
	members is required for any action by the commission.
	(g)  Except as provided by Subsection (h) of this section, a
	majority vote of the members of the commission, including at least
	one member of the commission who belongs to the majority party and
	at least one member of the commission who belongs to the minority
	party, is required to:
	(1)  adopt rules of the commission;
	(2)  hire staff for the commission; or
	(3)  expend commission funds.
	(h)  If the commission is unable to agree, by the vote
	required under Subsection (g) of this section, on the manner in
	which commission funds should be expended, each co-chair has the
	authority to expend one-half of the funds appropriated to the
	commission.
	(i)  The affirmative vote of four members of the commission,
	including at least two members of the commission who belong to the
	majority party and two members of the commission who belong to the
	minority party, is required to adopt any redistricting plan for the
	Texas Senate or the Texas House of Representatives.
	(j)  For purposes of this section and Section 28a of this
	article:
	(1)  the governor is considered to belong to the
	governor's political party;
	(2)  the comptroller is considered to belong to the
	comptroller's political party;
	(3)  the secretary of state is considered to belong to
	the political party to which the governor who appointed the
	secretary of state belongs;
	(4)  a member of the commission appointed by the
	president of the Texas Senate or the speaker of the Texas House of
	Representatives is considered to belong to the political party to
	which the person making the appointment belongs; and
	(5)  a member of the commission selected by vote of a
	political party caucus is considered to belong to that political
	party.
	(k)  At the first meeting of the commission, which the
	governor may convene following the publication of each United
	States decennial census, except as otherwise provided by this
	section, Section 28a of this article, and Section 7a, Article V, of
	this constitution, the commission shall set a schedule for the
	adoption of procedural rules for the operation of the commission.
	(l)  Before adopting, but after introducing, a proposed
	redistricting plan for the Texas Senate or the Texas House of
	Representatives, the commission shall conduct at least three public
	hearings across the state to present the proposed plan and shall
	seek public input regarding the proposed plan.
	(m)  All meetings of the commission are open to the public.
	The commission shall broadcast meetings by electronic means of
	transmission using a medium readily accessible by the general
	public.
	(n)  The commission shall adopt final redistricting plans
	for the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives not
	later than six months following the publication of the United
	States decennial census. After the commission adopts a final plan,
	the commission shall promptly file the plan with the secretary of
	state and [In the event the Legislature shall at any such first
	regular session following the publication of a United States
	decennial census, fail to make such apportionment, same shall be
	done by the Legislative Redistricting Board of Texas, which is
	hereby created, and shall be composed of five (5) members, as
	follows: The Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of
	Representatives, the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public
	Accounts and the Commissioner of the General Land Office, a
	majority of whom shall constitute a quorum. Said Board shall
	assemble in the City of Austin within ninety (90) days after the
	final adjournment of such regular session. The Board shall, within
	sixty (60) days after assembling, apportion the state into
	senatorial and representative districts, or into senatorial or
	representative districts, as the failure of action of such
	Legislature may make necessary. Such apportionment shall be in
	writing and signed by three (3) or more of the members of the Board
	duly acknowledged as the act and deed of such Board, and,] when so
	[executed and] filed with the secretary of state [Secretary of
	State], the plan shall have force and effect of law. The plan
	becomes [Such apportionment shall become] effective at the next
	succeeding statewide general election.
	(o)  If the commission does not adopt a redistricting plan
	for the Texas House of Representatives or the Texas Senate under
	Subsection (n) of this section in the time prescribed, then the
	legislature shall adopt a plan for either or both legislative
	bodies, as necessary, in the form of a bill as soon as possible but
	not later than the first regular session following the publication
	of the United States decennial census.
	(o-1)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (o)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of
	the members of each house of the legislature, including the
	affirmative vote of at least one-third of the members of the
	majority party and at least one-third of the members of the minority
	party in each house, and the plan becomes law, the plan remains
	effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as
	provided in Subsection (u) of this section.
	(o-2)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (o)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least one-half of the
	members of each house of the legislature, but not by the vote
	required by Subsection (o-1) of this section, then the following
	requirements apply to the plan:
	(1)  the legislature may not adopt a plan that unduly
	favors or disfavors a political party or its incumbents;
	(2)  the legislature may not unduly split political
	subdivisions, giving preference to keeping counties whole, then to
	keeping municipalities whole;
	(3)  the legislature shall attempt to draw districts
	that are compact; and
	(4)  the legislature must include in the plan an
	explanation of the plan's compliance with Subdivisions (1), (2),
	and (3) of this subsection.
	(o-3)  A plan adopted in the manner provided by Subsection
	(o-2) of this section that becomes law remains effective until two
	general elections for the legislative body to which the plan
	applies have occurred under the plan, except as provided in
	Subsection (u) of this section.
	(p)  Not later than the last day of May of the year after the
	year in which a plan expires under Subsection (o-3) of this section,
	the commission shall be reconstituted, reconvene, and adopt a plan
	by the affirmative vote of at least four members of the commission,
	including at least two members of the commission who belong to the
	majority party and at least two members of the commission who belong
	to the minority party.  A plan adopted under this subsection takes
	effect upon filing with the secretary of state and remains
	effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as
	provided in Subsection (u) of this section.  A plan adopted under
	this subsection must be drawn using the federal decennial census
	data or other data on which the previous redistricting was based.
	(q)  If the commission is required to but does  not adopt a
	plan under Subsection (p) of this section on or before the last day
	of May of the year after the year in which a plan expires under
	Subsection (o-3) of this section, then the legislature shall adopt
	a plan in the form of a bill not later than the last day of June of
	that year.  A plan adopted under this subsection must be drawn using
	the federal decennial census data or other data on which the
	previous redistricting was based.
	(q-1)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (q)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of
	the members of each house of the legislature, including the
	affirmative vote of at least one-third of the members of the
	majority party and at least one-third of the members of the minority
	party in each house, and the plan becomes law, the plan remains
	effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as
	provided in Subsection (u) of this section.
	(q-2)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (q)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least one-half of the
	members of each house of the legislature, but not by the vote
	required by Subsection (q-1) of this section, then the following
	requirements apply to the plan:
	(1)  the legislature may not adopt a plan that unduly
	favors or disfavors a political party or its incumbents;
	(2)  the legislature may not unduly split political
	subdivisions, giving preference to keeping counties whole, then to
	keeping municipalities whole;
	(3)  the legislature shall attempt to draw districts
	that are compact; and
	(4)  the legislature must include in the plan an
	explanation of the plan's compliance with Subdivisions (1), (2),
	and (3) of this subsection.
	(q-3)  A plan adopted in the manner provided by Subsection
	(q-2) of this section that becomes law remains effective until the
	next year ending in the numeral one, except as provided in
	Subsection (u) of this section.
	(r)  Before the legislature adopts a plan under this section,
	a joint committee of the legislature shall hold at least two public
	committee hearings concerning a proposed plan.  The legislature and
	the commission shall facilitate and allow for the submission of
	proposed plans by members of the public in the manner provided by
	general law.
	(s)  For purposes of filing a plan with the governor or the
	secretary of state, a plan must include both a legal description of
	the boundaries of the districts for the Texas House of
	Representatives or the Texas Senate, as applicable, and all
	electronic data necessary to create a district map for the purpose
	of holding elections.
	(t)  When a plan ceases to be effective under this section,
	the district boundaries described in the plan continue in operation
	for the purpose of holding elections until a new plan takes effect
	in accordance with this section.  If a vacancy occurs in a district
	that was created under the previous plan, the election to fill the
	vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term shall be held using
	the previous plan.
	(u)  In the event that any subsection of this section
	relating to a redistricting plan for the Texas House of
	Representatives or the Texas Senate or any district or group of
	districts is challenged and is determined to be invalid by a final
	order of a court of competent jurisdiction not subject to appeal,
	then notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the
	commission shall be reconstituted and reconvene and shall adopt a
	plan in accordance with the valid provisions of this section, to be
	used until the next time for redistricting under this section.
	The commission shall adopt a plan under this subsection not
	later than the 30th day after the last day on which an appeal of the
	court order could have been filed or, if the order is not
	appealable, the 30th day after the day on which the order is issued.
	If the commission does not adopt a new plan in accordance with
	this subsection, then not later than the 30th day after the deadline
	for the commission to adopt the plan, the legislature shall adopt a
	plan in accordance with the valid provisions of this section, to be
	used until the next time for redistricting under this section.
	A plan adopted under this subsection must remedy any legal
	defects in the previous plan identified by the court but may not
	include changes to the previous plan other than those made in order
	to remedy those defects.
	(v)  Unless otherwise already convened, the legislature
	shall convene in special session on the first Tuesday that occurs
	during a period in which the legislature is required to adopt a plan
	under this section.
	(w)  The Supreme Court of Texas shall have jurisdiction to
	compel the commission [such Board] to perform its duties in
	accordance with the provisions of this section, Section 28a of this
	article, and Section 7a, Article V, of this constitution, by writ of
	mandamus or other extraordinary writs conformable to the usages of
	law.
	(x)  The legislature [Legislature] shall provide necessary
	funds for clerical and technical aid and for other expenses
	necessary or incidental to the work of the commission [Board, and
	the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of
	Representatives shall be entitled to receive per diem and travel
	expense during the Board's session in the same manner and amount as
	they would receive while attending a special session of the
	Legislature].
	(y)  Four weeks after adopting redistricting plans for the
	legislature and, if necessary, for members of the United States
	House of Representatives elected from this state, the commission is
	automatically dissolved.  The commission shall be reconstituted and
	reconvene as provided by this section, Section 28a of this article,
	and Section 7a, Article V, of this constitution.
	SECTION 2.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
	adding Section 28a to read as follows:
	Sec. 28a.  (a) In this section:
	(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Redistricting
	Commission established under Section 28 of this article.
	(2)  "Majority party" means the political party with
	the most members among the combined membership of the Texas Senate
	and the Texas House of Representatives.
	(3)  "Minority party" means the political party with
	the second highest number of members among the combined membership
	of the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives.
	(4)  "Plan" means a redistricting plan for the election
	of the members of the United States House of Representatives
	elected from this state, adopted as provided by this section.
	(b)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
	legislature is responsible for the congressional redistricting of
	this state based on the prescribed number of congressional
	districts apportioned to the state under Section 2, Article I,
	United States Constitution.
	(c)  Not later than the last day of May of a year ending in
	the numeral one, the legislature shall adopt a plan in the form of a
	bill by the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the members
	of each house of the legislature, including the affirmative vote of
	at least one-half of the members of the majority party and at least
	one-half of the members of the minority party in each house.  A plan
	that is adopted under this subsection and becomes law remains
	effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as
	provided in Subsection (p) of this section.
	(d)  If the legislature does not adopt a plan under
	Subsection (c) of this section on or before the last day of May of a
	year ending in the numeral one, the commission shall adopt a plan
	not later than six months following the publication of the United
	States decennial census by the affirmative vote of at least four
	members of the commission, including at least two members of the
	commission who belong to the majority party and at least two members
	of the commission who belong to the minority party.  The plan takes
	effect upon filing with the secretary of state and remains
	effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as
	provided in Subsection (p) of this section.
	(e)  If the commission is required to but does not adopt a
	plan under Subsection (d) of this section in the time prescribed,
	then the legislature shall adopt a plan in the form of a bill as soon
	as possible but not later than the first regular session following
	the time prescribed.
	(e-1)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (e)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of
	the members of each house of the legislature, including the
	affirmative vote of at least one-third of the members of the
	majority party and at least one-third of the members of the minority
	party represented in that house, and the plan becomes law, the plan
	remains effective until the next year ending in the numeral one,
	except as provided in Subsection (p) of this section.
	(e-2)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (e)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least one-half of the
	members of each house of the legislature, but not by the vote
	required by Subsection (e-1) of this section, then the following
	requirements apply to the plan:
	(1)  the legislature may not adopt a plan that unduly
	favors or disfavors a political party or its incumbents;
	(2)  the legislature may not unduly split political
	subdivisions, giving preference to keeping counties whole, then to
	keeping municipalities whole;
	(3)  the legislature shall attempt to draw districts
	that are compact, but Subsection (m)(2) of this section does not
	apply; and
	(4)  the legislature must include in the plan an
	explanation of the plan's compliance with Subdivisions (1), (2),
	and (3) of this subsection.
	(e-3)  A plan adopted in the manner provided by Subsection
	(e-2) of this section that becomes law remains effective until two
	general elections for the United States House of Representatives
	have occurred under the plan, except as provided in Subsection (p)
	of this section.
	(f)  Not later than the last day of May of the year after the
	year in which a plan expires under Subsection (e-3) of this section,
	the legislature shall adopt a plan in the form of a bill by the
	affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the members of each
	house of the legislature, including the affirmative vote of at
	least one-half of the members of the majority party and at least
	one-half of the members of the minority party in each house. A plan
	adopted under this subsection that becomes law remains effective
	until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as provided in
	Subsection (p) of this section.  A plan adopted under this
	subsection must be drawn using the federal decennial census data or
	other data on which the previous redistricting was based.
	(g)  If the legislature is required to but does not adopt a
	plan under Subsection (f) of this section on or before the last day
	of May of the year after the year in which a plan expires under
	Subsection (e-3) of this section, then the commission shall be
	reconstituted, reconvene, and adopt a plan not later than the last
	day of June of that year by the affirmative vote of at least four
	members of the commission, including at least two members of the
	commission who belong to the majority party and at least two members
	of the commission who belong to the minority party.  A plan adopted
	under this subsection takes effect upon filing with the secretary
	of state and remains effective until the next year ending in the
	numeral one, except as provided in Subsection (p) of this section.
	A plan adopted under this subsection must be drawn using the federal
	decennial census data or other data on which the previous
	redistricting was based.
	(h)  If the commission is required to but does  not adopt a
	plan under Subsection (g) of this section on or before the last day
	of June of the year after the year in which a plan expires under
	Subsection (e-3) of this section, then the legislature shall adopt
	a plan in the form of a bill not later than the last day of July of
	that year.  A plan adopted under this subsection must be drawn using
	the federal decennial census data or other data on which the
	previous redistricting was based.
	(h-1)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (h)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of
	the members of each house of the legislature, including the
	affirmative vote of at least one-third of the members of the
	majority party and at least one-third of the members of the minority
	party in each house, and the plan becomes law, the plan remains
	effective until the next year ending in the numeral one, except as
	provided in Subsection (p) of this section.
	(h-2)  If the legislature adopts a plan under Subsection (h)
	of this section by the affirmative vote of at least one-half of the
	members of each house of the legislature, but not by the vote
	required by Subsection (h-1) of this section, then the following
	requirements apply to the plan:
	(1)  the legislature may not adopt a plan that unduly
	favors or disfavors a political party or its incumbents;
	(2)  the legislature may not unduly split political
	subdivisions, giving preference to keeping counties whole, then to
	keeping municipalities whole;
	(3)  the legislature shall attempt to draw districts
	that are compact, but Subsection (m)(2) of this section does not
	apply; and
	(4)  the legislature must include in the plan an
	explanation of the plan's compliance with Subdivisions (1), (2),
	and (3) of this subsection.
	(h-3)  A plan adopted in the manner provided by Subsection
	(h-2) of this section that becomes law remains effective until the
	next year ending in the numeral one, except as provided in
	Subsection (p) of this section.
	(i)  Before the legislature adopts a plan under this section,
	a joint committee of the legislature shall hold at least two public
	committee hearings concerning a proposed plan.  Before the
	commission adopts a plan under this section, the commission shall
	hold at least two public hearings concerning a proposed plan. The
	legislature and the commission shall facilitate and allow for the
	submission of proposed plans by members of the public in the manner
	provided by general law.
	(j)  For purposes of filing a plan with the governor or the
	secretary of state, a plan must include both a legal description of
	the boundaries of the congressional districts and all electronic
	data necessary to create a congressional district map for the
	purpose of holding congressional elections.
	(k)  When a plan ceases to be effective under this section,
	the district boundaries described in the plan continue in operation
	for the purpose of holding elections until a new plan takes effect
	in accordance with this section.  If a vacancy occurs in a district
	that was created under the previous plan, the election to fill the
	vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term shall be held using
	the previous plan.
	(l)  Each congressional district is entitled to a single
	representative in the United States House of Representatives in
	each Congress.  The total population of the state, as determined by
	the federal decennial census or, if the federal decennial census is
	unavailable, another basis as directed by the legislature, shall be
	divided by the number of congressional districts apportioned to the
	state under Section 2, Article I, United States Constitution, and
	the quotient shall be the congressional ratio of representation for
	the next 10 years.  Notwithstanding the fact that boundaries of
	counties or municipalities within a district may be changed,
	district boundaries shall be created by using the data from the most
	recent federal decennial census or from the basis directed by the
	legislature, as applicable.
	(m)  A plan must comply with all of the following
	requirements:
	(1)  the plan must comply with all applicable
	provisions of the constitutions of this state and the United States
	and of federal law, including federal laws protecting racial
	minority voting rights;
	(2)  each congressional district must be compact;
	(3)  each congressional district must be composed of
	contiguous territory, and the boundary of each district must be a
	single nonintersecting continuous line;
	(4)  except as otherwise required by federal law, in a
	county that contains a population that exceeds the congressional
	ratio of representation, the authority drawing the districts shall
	take the first of the following actions that applies to that county:
	(A)  if a municipality located in the county
	contains a population that exceeds the congressional ratio of
	representation, the authority shall attempt to include a
	significant portion of that municipality in a single district and
	may include in that district other municipalities that are located
	in that county and whose residents have similar interests as the
	residents of the municipality that contains a population that
	exceeds the congressional ratio of representation;
	(B)  if one municipality in that county contains a
	population of not less than 100,000 and not more than the
	congressional ratio of representation, that municipality may not be
	split; or
	(C)  if that county contains two or more
	municipalities described by Paragraph (B) of this subdivision, only
	the most populous of those municipalities may not be split;
	(5)  if a congressional district includes only part of
	the territory of a particular county, the part of that
	congressional district that lies in that particular county must be
	contiguous within the boundaries of the county;
	(6)  no two congressional districts may share portions
	of the territory of more than one county, except for a county whose
	population exceeds the congressional ratio of representation or as
	necessary to comply with federal law; and
	(7)  the authority drawing the districts must attempt
	to include at least one whole county in each congressional
	district, but this subdivision does not apply to a congressional
	district that is contained entirely within one county or that
	cannot be drawn in that manner while complying with federal law.
	(n)  In determining whether the population of a municipality
	exceeds the congressional ratio of representation for the purpose
	of Subsection (m)(4)(A) of this section, if the territory of that
	municipality completely surrounds the territory of another
	municipality, the territory of the surrounded municipality is
	considered part of the territory of the surrounding municipality.
	(o)  For purposes of this section, a county or municipality
	is considered to be split if, based on the census data used for the
	purpose of redistricting, any contiguous portion of its territory
	is not contained entirely within one district except that if a
	municipality has territory in more than one county, the contiguous
	portion of that municipality that lies in each county shall be
	considered to be a separate municipality for purposes of this
	section.
	(p)  In the event that any subsection of this section
	relating to congressional redistricting, any plan, or any
	congressional district or group of congressional districts is
	challenged and is determined to be invalid by a final order of a
	court of competent jurisdiction not subject to appeal, then
	notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the
	legislature shall adopt a plan in accordance with the valid
	provisions of this section, to be used until the next time for
	redistricting under this section.
	The legislature shall adopt a plan under this subsection not
	later than the 30th day after the last day on which an appeal of the
	court order could have been filed or, if the order is not
	appealable, the 30th day after the day on which the order is issued.
	If the legislature does not adopt a new plan in accordance
	with this subsection, then not later than the 30th day after the
	deadline for the legislature to adopt the plan, the commission
	shall be reconstituted and reconvene and shall adopt a plan in
	accordance with the valid provisions of this section, to be used
	until the next time for redistricting under this section.
	A plan adopted under this subsection must remedy any legal
	defects in the previous plan identified by the court but may not
	include changes to the previous plan other than those made in order
	to remedy those defects.
	(q)  Unless otherwise already convened, the legislature
	shall convene in special session on the first Tuesday that occurs
	during a period in which the legislature is required to adopt a plan
	under this section.
	SECTION 3.   Section 7a, Article V, Texas Constitution, is
	amended by amending Subsections (e) and (i) and adding Subsection
	(j) to read as follows:
	(e)  Unless the legislature enacts a statewide
	reapportionment of the judicial districts following each federal
	decennial census, the board shall convene not later than the first
	Monday of June of the third year following the year in which the
	federal decennial census is taken to make a statewide
	reapportionment of the districts. The board shall complete its
	work on the reapportionment and file its order with the secretary of
	state not later than August 31 of the same year. If the Judicial
	Districts Board fails to make a statewide apportionment by that
	date, the Texas [Legislative] Redistricting Commission [Board]
	established by Section 28, Article III, [Section 28,] of this
	constitution shall convene on September 1 of the same year to make a
	statewide reapportionment of the judicial districts not later than
	the 90th [150th] day after the final day for the Judicial Districts
	Board to make the reapportionment.
	(i)  The legislature, the Judicial Districts Board, or the
	Texas [Legislative] Redistricting Commission [Board] may not
	redistrict the judicial districts to provide for any judicial
	district smaller in size than an entire county except as provided by
	this section. Judicial districts smaller in size than the entire
	county may be created subsequent to a general election where a
	majority of the persons voting on the proposition adopt the
	proposition "to allow the division of ____________ County into
	judicial districts composed of parts of ____________ County." No
	redistricting plan may be proposed or adopted by the legislature,
	the Judicial Districts Board, or the Texas [Legislative]
	Redistricting Commission [Board] in anticipation of a future action
	by the voters of any county.
	(j)  Until January 1, 2031, a reference in this section to
	the Texas Redistricting Commission means the Legislative
	Redistricting Board established under Section 28, Article III, of
	this constitution. This subsection expires January 1, 2031.
	SECTION 4.   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
	following proposition: "The constitutional amendment establishing
	the Texas Redistricting Commission and providing redistricting
	procedures for state legislative, state judicial, and
	congressional districts."