Bill Text: TX SJR44 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment to change the number, method of appointment, and terms of members of the Texas Ethics Commission and providing for the governance, purpose, and mission of the commission.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-17 - Referred to State Affairs [SJR44 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SJR44-Introduced.html
84R11506 MK-D | ||
By: Hall | S.J.R. No. 44 |
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proposing a constitutional amendment to change the number, method | ||
of appointment, and terms of members of the Texas Ethics Commission | ||
and providing for the governance, purpose, and mission of the | ||
commission. | ||
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 24a, Article III, Texas Constitution, is | ||
amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding | ||
Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: | ||
(a) The Texas Ethics Commission is a state agency consisting | ||
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(1) three [ |
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the governor, [ |
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governor [ |
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(2) three [ |
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by law to hold a primary that is not the political party of the | ||
governor, [ |
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(b) [ |
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commission shall rotate biennially among the members of the | ||
commission who are from the same political party as the governor | ||
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(c) Commission [ |
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the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original | ||
appointment. A member who has served for one term and any part of a | ||
second term is not eligible for reappointment. | ||
(c-1) The purpose and mission of the Texas Ethics Commission | ||
is to achieve the following objectives: | ||
(1) controlling and reducing the cost of elections; | ||
(2) eliminating opportunities for undue influence | ||
over elections and governmental actions; | ||
(3) promoting the full disclosure of information | ||
related to expenditures and contributions for elections and for | ||
petitioning the government; | ||
(4) enhancing the potential for individual | ||
participation in electoral and governmental processes; and | ||
(5) ensuring the confidence and trust of the public in | ||
the government of the 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, to change the number, method of appointment, | ||
and terms of members of the Texas Ethics Commission and providing | ||
for the governance, purpose, and mission of the commission. | ||
(b) On January 1, 2016, the terms of all of the members of | ||
the Texas Ethics Commission expire, and the governor shall appoint | ||
two persons to terms expiring February 1, 2017, two persons to terms | ||
expiring February 1, 2019, and two persons to terms expiring | ||
February 1, 2021. Thereafter, members of the Texas Ethics | ||
Commission serve six-year terms, as provided by Section 24a(c), | ||
Article III, of this constitution. | ||
(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2017. | ||
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 provide for voting for or against the | ||
proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for a | ||
decrease in the size of the Texas Ethics Commission from eight to | ||
six members who are appointed by the governor to serve six-year | ||
terms, providing for the rotation of the position of presiding | ||
officer of the commission, and providing for the purpose and | ||
mission of the commission." |