| 1 | 1 | | 87S20498 TJB-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Oliverson H.B. No. 208 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a vacancy in the office of senator or representative due |
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| 8 | 8 | | to unexcused absence. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 301, Government Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 301.074 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 301.074. VACANCY DUE TO UNEXCUSED ABSENCE. A member of |
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| 13 | 13 | | the legislature vacates the member's office if the member is absent |
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| 14 | 14 | | during a regular or special session of the legislature without an |
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| 15 | 15 | | excuse granted in accordance with the procedures of the house of |
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| 16 | 16 | | which the person is a member for: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) seven consecutive days on which that house meets |
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| 18 | 18 | | and lacks a quorum to do business; or |
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| 19 | 19 | | (2) one day on which that house meets and lacks a |
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| 20 | 20 | | quorum to do business, if the member is outside of the United States |
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| 21 | 21 | | on that day. |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 2. Section 301.074, Government Code, as added by |
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| 23 | 23 | | this Act, applies only to an absence that occurs on or after the |
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| 24 | 24 | | effective date of this Act. |
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| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 26 | 26 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 27 | 27 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 28 | 28 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 29 | 29 | | Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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| 30 | 30 | | legislative session. |
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