88R14815 JRJ-D
By: Springer S.J.R. No. 71
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the governor to call
the legislature into special session following certain disaster or
emergency declarations and specifying the powers of the legislature
in those special sessions.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 8, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is
amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
(c) The Governor shall convene the Legislature in special
session for the purposes described by Subsection (d) of this
section:
(1) if a state of disaster or emergency declared by the
Governor continues for more than 21 days; or
(2) on receipt of a petition from any member of the
Legislature requesting legislative review of a state of disaster or
emergency declared by the Governor if the petition is signed by at
least two-thirds of the members of the house of representatives and
at least two-thirds of the members of the senate.
(d) In a special session convened under Subsection (c) of
this section, the Legislature may:
(1) review an order, proclamation, or other instrument
issued by the Governor during the 90 days before the special session
begins:
(A) declaring a state of disaster or emergency in
this state; or
(B) in response to a state of disaster or
emergency in this state declared by any federal, state, or local
official or entity;
(2) terminate or modify an order, proclamation, or
other instrument described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection by
passage of a resolution approved by majority vote of the members
present in each house of the Legislature, which is not subject to
Section 15, Article IV, of this constitution;
(3) respond to the state of disaster or emergency,
including by:
(A) passing laws and resolutions the Legislature
determines are related to the state of disaster or emergency; and
(B) exercising the powers reserved to the
Legislature under Section 28, Article I, of this constitution; and
(4) consider any other subjects stated in the
Governor's proclamation convening the Legislature.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the governor
to call the legislature into special session following certain
disaster or emergency declarations and specifying the powers of the
legislature in those special sessions."