83R8559 DRH-D
By: Hunter H.J.R. No. 140
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment on the length of legislative
terms and number of years a person may serve in the legislature.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 3, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3. (a) The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified
voters for the term of six [four] years; but a new Senate shall be
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 be vacated at the
expiration of the first four [two] years[,] and those of the second
class at the expiration of six [four] years[, so that one half of
the Senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter].
(b) 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 2. Section 4, Article III, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4. (a) The Members of the House of Representatives
shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the term of four [two]
years; but a new House of Representatives shall be chosen after
every apportionment, and the Members elected after each
apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The Members
of the first class shall vacate their seats after the expiration of
two years, and the Members of the second class shall vacate their
seats after the expiration of four years after the date on which
their term of office begins, so that half of the Members will be
elected biennially.
(b) Representatives 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. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 7a to read as follows:
Sec. 7a. (a) A person is not eligible to be elected to the
senate if, on the date the term to which the person seeks election
begins, the person will have in the preceding 18 years served 12 or
more consecutive years as a member of the senate.
(b) A person is not eligible to be elected to the house of
representatives if, on the date the term to which the person seeks
election begins, the person will have in the preceding 12 years
served eight or more consecutive years as a member of the house.
(c) Legislative service before the legislature convenes in
regular session in 2015 is not counted in determining whether a
person is disqualified from election under this section.
(d) For purposes of this section, it is presumed that a
member of the legislature who seeks election to a subsequent term of
office will serve for the full term of office the member is
currently serving.
SECTION 4. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 83rd Legislature,
Regular Session, 2013, on the length of legislative terms and
number of years a person may serve in the legislature.
(b) Members of the legislature shall be elected to terms as
provided by Sections 3 and 4, Article III, of this constitution
beginning with the election of members of the 84th Legislature, to
convene in 2015. For that purpose, the senators and
representatives elected to the 84th Legislature shall be divided by
lot into classes to establish staggered terms as provided by
Sections 3 and 4, Article III, as applicable, in the same manner as
following an apportionment.
(c) This section expires January 31, 2015.
SECTION 5. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment changing the length of
legislative terms and limiting the number of years a person may
serve in the legislature."