82R11250 ACP-D
By: Dutton H.J.R. No. 154
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment increasing the number of state
senators from 31 to 41.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 2. The Senate shall consist of 41 [thirty-one]
members. The House of Representatives shall consist of 150
members.
SECTION 2. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3. The Senators shall be elected [chosen] by the
qualified voters for the term of four years; but a new Senate shall
be elected [chosen] after every apportionment, and the Senators
elected after each apportionment shall be divided by lot into two
classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall consist
of 20 seats and shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two
years. The seats of the Senators [, and those] of the second class
shall consist of 21 seats and shall be vacated at the expiration of
four years, so that one half of the Senators, as nearly as may be,
shall be elected [chosen] biennially thereafter. Senators shall
take office following their election, on the day set by law for the
convening of the Regular Session of the Legislature, and shall
serve thereafter for the full term of years to which elected.
SECTION 3. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 82nd Legislature,
Regular Session, 2011, increasing the number of state senators from
31 to 41.
(b) The increase in the number of senators as provided by
the constitutional amendment takes effect beginning with the
members of the senate of the 83rd Legislature and the primary and
general elections in 2012 for the election of those senators.
(c) Not later than the 30th day after the date of the
election at which the constitutional amendment increasing the
number of senators is approved, the governor shall convene the
legislature in special session to apportion the state into the
appropriate number of senate districts as provided by the amendment
for use in the election of the senators of the 83rd Legislature. If
the legislature fails to apportion the state into the appropriate
number of senate districts, the courts of this state in an
appropriate case may make that apportionment.
(d) After an apportionment under Subsection (c), a new
senate shall be elected as provided by Section 3, Article III, of
this constitution.
(e) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2016.
SECTION 4. 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 increasing the number
of state senators from 31 to 41."