Texas House Bill HJR69

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to permit the attorney general to prosecute offenses against public administration, including ethics offenses, and offenses involving insurance fraud or the imposition of the motor fuels tax.

Impact

Should HJR69 pass, it would lead to significant changes in how offenses related to public administration are prosecuted in Texas. Currently, the prosecution of such offenses may be handled by local authorities or other state entities. By centralizing the authority in the attorney general's office, the state hopes to ensure that these serious allegations are handled more uniformly and vigorously across jurisdictions, thereby potentially reducing corruption and improving accountability.

Summary

HJR69 is a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Texas Constitution that would grant the attorney general the authority to prosecute various offenses against public administration. Specifically, this includes ethics violations, insurance fraud, and issues related to the imposition of the motor fuels tax. The intent of the bill is to enhance the prosecutorial power of the attorney general in safeguarding the integrity of public administration and ensuring stricter enforcement of laws concerning ethics and taxation.

Contention

While the bill aims to strengthen the enforcement of laws against unethical behavior and fraud, it may also raise concerns regarding the concentration of prosecutorial powers in one office. Some opponents might argue that this could lead to overreach or misuse of power, while proponents are likely to claim that it is essential for maintaining the integrity of state governance. The amendment will be put forth to the voters, which may lead to discussions around the balance of power and accountability within state administration.