82R12208 JSA-D
By: Price H.J.R. No. 136
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment providing that a legislator
who is absent without excuse for an extended period during a
legislative session vacates office and is not counted in
determining a quorum of the applicable house of the legislature.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 23-a to read as follows:
Sec. 23-a. (a) If a member of either house of the
legislature is absent without an excuse granted in accordance with
the procedures of that house for seven consecutive days in which
that house meets during a regular or special session of the
legislature, the member immediately vacates the member's office,
and the resulting vacancy shall be filled as provided by Section 13
of this article. A person who vacates office under this section may
not continue to perform the duties of the office under Section 17,
Article XVI, of this constitution.
(b) For purposes of determining whether a quorum of a house
is present under Section 10 of this article, a seat that becomes
vacant under this section is not counted in the total membership of
that house.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing that a
legislator who is absent without excuse for seven consecutive
working days during a legislative session vacates office and is not
counted in determining a quorum of the applicable house of the
legislature."