81R1569 JSA-D
By: Naishtat H.J.R. No. 23
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to require that a record vote
be taken by a house of the legislature on second reading of a bill or
resolution for which a record vote is currently required on final
passage and on adoption of an amendment or substitute to such a bill
or resolution, and that a vote taken by a legislative committee on
such a bill or resolution or on an amendment or substitute to such a
bill or resolution be by record vote.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 12, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended by amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection
(e) to read as follows:
(b) A vote taken by either house must be by record vote with
the vote of each member entered in the journal of that house if the
vote is on second reading or final passage of a bill, a resolution
proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment, or another
resolution other than a resolution of a purely ceremonial or
honorary nature, or if the vote is on adoption of an amendment or
substitute to such a bill or resolution. Either house by rule may
provide for exceptions to this requirement for a bill that applies
only to one district or political subdivision of this state. For
purposes of this subsection, a vote on final passage includes a vote
on third reading [in a house, or on second reading if the house
suspends the requirement for three readings], a vote on whether to
concur in the other house's amendments, and a vote on whether to
adopt a conference committee report.
(d) A vote taken by a committee of either house of the
legislature on whether to report a bill or resolution for which a
record vote would be required by Subsection (b), or on whether to
adopt an amendment or substitute to such a bill or resolution, must
be by record vote, with the vote of each member entered in the
minutes of the committee. Either house by rule may provide for
exceptions to this requirement for a bill that applies only to one
district or political subdivision of this state.
(e) Each house shall make each record vote required under
Subsection (b) or (d) of this section, including the vote of each
individual member as recorded in the journal of that house or in the
committee minutes, available to the public for a reasonable period
of not less than two years through the Internet or a successor
electronic communications system accessible by the public. For a
record vote on a bill or on a resolution proposing or ratifying a
constitutional amendment, the record vote must be accessible to the
public by reference to the designated number of the bill or
resolution and by reference to its subject.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to require that a record
vote be taken by a house of the legislature on second reading of a
bill or resolution for which a record vote is currently required on
final passage and on adoption of an amendment or substitute to such
a bill or resolution, and that a vote taken by a legislative
committee on such a bill or resolution or on an amendment or
substitute to such a bill or resolution be by record vote."