Granting the legislature permission to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning on Thursday, January 15, 2015, and ending on Tuesday, January 20, 2015.
The passing of SCR4 permitted both the Senate and the House to extend their recess beyond the standard period, ensuring that legislative business could be conducted efficiently during the stipulated time frame. By consenting to this adjournment, the legislature aimed to manage their schedule effectively, particularly as they navigated key discussions and decisions in a busy session.
SCR4, or Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, was introduced to grant the Texas Legislature permission to adjourn for more than three days during a specific period in January 2015. This resolution addresses the provision in Section 17, Article III of the Texas Constitution, which limits any house of the legislature from adjourning for more than three days without mutual consent. The intention behind the resolution was to provide flexibility to the legislative session without breaching constitutional provisions.
The sentiment surrounding SCR4 appeared to be overwhelmingly positive, as reflected by its unanimous support in both the Senate and the House. The resolution was adopted with a vote of 31-0 in the Senate and 145-0 in the House, indicating broad legislative agreement on the necessity of this flexibility within the legislative process. Such unanimous backing underscores a collective understanding of the need to adapt procedural rules to better facilitate governance.
While SCR4 received unanimous support, it also highlights a procedural mechanism in legislative processes that can sometimes face contention. The strictures of the Texas Constitution are designed to ensure checks and balances within the legislative process, thus enabling the legislature to remain accountable. By navigating these strictures and obtaining consent for adjournment, the resolution exemplifies the balance between legislative operational needs and constitutional adherence.