Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HJR142 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R9260 JCG-D
2	2	By: Slaton H.J.R. No. 142
3	3
4	4
5	5	A JOINT RESOLUTION
6	6	proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the secretary of
7	7	state to be elected by the qualified voters at a general election
8	8	instead of appointed by the governor.
9	9	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Sections 2, 21, and 23, Article IV, Texas
11	11	Constitution, are amended to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 2. All the above officers of the Executive Department
13	13	[(except Secretary of State)] shall be elected by the qualified
14	14	voters of the State at the time and places of election for members
15	15	of the Legislature.
16	16	Sec. 21. The [There shall be a] Secretary of State[, who
17	17	shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and
18	18	consent of the Senate, and who shall continue in office during the
19	19	term of service of the Governor. He] shall authenticate the
20	20	publication of the laws, and keep a fair register of all official
21	21	acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when required, lay
22	22	the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto,
23	23	before the Legislature, or either House thereof, and shall perform
24	24	such other duties as may be required [of him] by law. [He shall
25	25	receive for his services an annual salary in an amount to be fixed
26	26	by the Legislature.]
27	27	Sec. 23. The Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Secretary
28	28	of State, the Commissioner of the General Land Office, the Attorney
29	29	General, and any statutory State officer who is elected by the
30	30	electorate of Texas at large, unless a term of office is otherwise
31	31	specifically provided in this Constitution, shall each hold office
32	32	for the term of four years. Each shall receive an annual salary in
33	33	an amount to be fixed by the Legislature and perform such duties as
34	34	are or may be required by law. They [and the Secretary of State]
35	35	shall not receive to their own use any fees, costs or perquisites of
36	36	office. All fees that may be payable by law for any service
37	37	performed by any officer specified in this section or in the
38	38	officer's office, shall be paid, when received, into the State
39	39	Treasury.
40	40	SECTION 2. Section 2, Article XV, Texas Constitution, is
41	41	amended to read as follows:
42	42	Sec. 2. Impeachment of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
43	43	Attorney General, Commissioner of the General Land Office,
44	44	Secretary of State, Comptroller and the Judges of the Supreme
45	45	Court, Court of Appeals and District Court shall be tried by the
46	46	Senate.
47	47	SECTION 3. The following temporary provision is added to
48	48	the Texas Constitution:
49	49	TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
50	50	to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 87th Legislature,
51	51	Regular Session, 2021, requiring the secretary of state to be
52	52	elected by the qualified voters at a general election instead of
53	53	appointed by the governor.
54	54	(b) Unless otherwise removed as provided by law, the
55	55	secretary of state serving on the date that the adoption of the
56	56	amendment by the voters is shown by the official canvass of returns
57	57	shall continue in office under the former law and that former law is
58	58	continued in effect for that purpose.
59	59	(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2026.
60	60	SECTION 4. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
61	61	submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021.
62	62	The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
63	63	proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the
64	64	secretary of state to be elected by the qualified voters at a
65	65	general election instead of appointed by the governor."