Bill Text: TX SR9 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Providing the rules for the drawing of lots to determine Senatorial terms for the 88th Texas Legislature.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-01-11 - Reported enrolled [SR9 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR9-Introduced.html
2023S0011-1 01/04/23 | ||
By: Whitmire | S.R. No. 9 |
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WHEREAS, Under the provisions of Article III, Section 3, | ||
of the Constitution of the State of Texas, the Senators elected | ||
after each apportionment shall be divided into two classes, the | ||
seats of the Senators of the first class to be vacated at the | ||
expiration of the first two years, and the seats of those of the | ||
second class to be vacated at the expiration of four years; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED by the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, That | ||
the Senate shall draw lots as provided by this resolution; and, | ||
be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That the drawing of lots shall be conducted as | ||
follows: | ||
(1) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint a committee of | ||
five Senators to supervise, direct, and verify all matters | ||
relating to the preparation of the slips and envelopes and the | ||
drawing of the envelopes as provided by this resolution; | ||
(2) The Secretary of the Senate shall prepare 31 slips of | ||
paper of uniform size and appearance and number the slips of | ||
paper sequentially from 1 to 31; | ||
(3) The Secretary of the Senate, under the supervision of | ||
the committee, shall place each of the slips of paper in a | ||
separate capsule, each of the capsules to be of uniform size and | ||
appearance, and shall then place each of the capsules in a | ||
separate envelope and seal the envelope, each of the envelopes to | ||
be of uniform size and appearance, and then place the 31 | ||
envelopes, each containing one of the capsules and slips of | ||
paper, in a suitable receptacle; | ||
(4) At a time and on a day determined by the President in | ||
open session of the Senate, the drawing of the envelopes shall be | ||
conducted under the supervision of the committee in the following | ||
manner: | ||
(A) The receptacle containing the sealed envelopes | ||
shall be placed on a suitable table or desk at the front of the | ||
Senate Chamber; and | ||
(B) The Secretary of the Senate shall call the names | ||
of the Senators in alphabetical order, and as the name of each | ||
Senator is called, that Senator shall withdraw from the | ||
receptacle one envelope, which shall then be immediately opened | ||
and the number appearing on the slip of paper in the envelope | ||
recorded after that Senator's name on a suitable register | ||
prepared by the secretary; | ||
(5) Any Senator who is unable to attend the drawing shall | ||
designate in writing another Senator to draw an envelope in the | ||
place of the absent Senator; in the event any Member of the Senate | ||
is absent and has failed to designate another Senator to act for | ||
the absent Senator in the drawing, the Secretary of the Senate | ||
shall draw an envelope for the absent Senator; and | ||
(6) The 15 Senate districts for which slips with even | ||
numbers were drawn shall constitute the first class and the term | ||
of Senators representing those districts shall terminate at the | ||
expiration of two years; and the 16 Senate districts for which | ||
slips with odd numbers were drawn shall constitute the second | ||
class, and those terms of office shall terminate at the | ||
expiration of four years. |