By: Sanford H.J.R. No. 151
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the legislature to
convene into special session on petition of at least two-thirds of
the members of each house of the legislature following certain
disaster or emergency declarations.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 8, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) If a state of emergency extends over 60 days in a
geographic area containing over sixty percent of the total state
population, the legislature shall convene in special session on
receipt of a petition requesting the special session that is signed
by at least two-thirds of the members of each house of the
legislature. The petition must state the date the Legislature must
convene the special session and the specific purpose or purposes
for which the session is convened. The proclamation must provide
for convening the legislature on the date stated in the petition and
must authorize the legislature to consider the specific purpose or
purposes stated in the petition.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the
legislature to convene into special session on petition of at least
two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature
following certain disaster or emergency declarations."