Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB3651 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Merritt H.B. No. 3651
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to the ineligibility of a railroad commissioner to become
7	7	a candidate for another public office.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Article 6447, Revised Statutes, is amended to
10	10	read as follows:
11	11	Art. 6447. THE COMMISSION. Election.--The Railroad
12	12	Commission of Texas shall be composed of three members, one of whom
13	13	shall be elected biennially at each general election for a term of
14	14	six years.
15	15	Qualifications.--The members shall be resident citizens of
16	16	this State, and qualified voters under the Constitution and laws,
17	17	and not less than twenty-five years of age. The members are subject
18	18	to the provisions of Chapter 572, Government Code, that apply to
19	19	elected officers, including the requirements governing personal
20	20	financial statements, standards of conduct, and conflicts of
21	21	interest.
22	22	No candidacy for other office during term.--A commissioner is
23	23	ineligible during the term for which the commissioner is elected or
24	24	appointed to become a candidate in any general, special, or primary
25	25	election for any other office of profit or trust under the laws of
26	26	this State or the United States. The provision in this paragraph
27	27	regarding ineligibility for other elective office does not apply to
28	28	an office for which the federal or state constitution prescribes
29	29	exclusive eligibility requirements.
30	30	A person must resign from the Commission before becoming a
31	31	candidate for any other office of profit or trust under the laws of
32	32	this State or the United States.
33	33	Oath, etc.--Before entering upon the duties of his office,
34	34	each commissioner shall take and subscribe to the official oath and
35	35	shall in addition thereto swear that he will to the best of his
36	36	ability faithfully and justly execute and enforce the provisions of
37	37	this title and all laws of this State concerning railroads, which
38	38	oath shall be filed with the Secretary of State.
39	39	Organization.--The commissioners shall elect one of their
40	40	number chairman. They may make all rules necessary for their
41	41	government and proceedings. They shall be known collectively as
42	42	the "Railroad Commission of Texas," and shall have a seal, a star of
43	43	five points with the words "Railroad Commission of Texas" engraved
44	44	thereon. They shall be furnished necessary furniture, stationery,
45	45	supplies and all necessary expenses, to be paid for on the order of
46	46	the Governor.
47	47	Expenses.--The Commissioners shall receive from the State
48	48	their necessary traveling expenses while traveling on the business
49	49	of the Commission, which shall include the cost only of
50	50	transportation while traveling on business for the Commission, upon
51	51	an itemized statement thereof, sworn to by the party who incurred
52	52	the expense, and approved by the Commission. Employees of the
53	53	Commission are entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in
54	54	traveling on the business of the Commission as provided by the
55	55	General Appropriations Act.
56	56	Sessions.--The Commission may hold its sessions at any place
57	57	in this State when deemed necessary.
58	58	SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
59	59	immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
60	60	elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
61	61	Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
62	62	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.