| 1 | 1 | | 89R16665 MCF-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Lowe H.J.R. No. 162 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A JOINT RESOLUTION |
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| 8 | 8 | | proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the attorney |
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| 9 | 9 | | general to prosecute a criminal offense committed by a peace |
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| 10 | 10 | | officer acting in the course and scope of the officer's official |
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| 11 | 11 | | duties. |
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| 12 | 12 | | BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Section 22, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is |
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| 14 | 14 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 22. (a) The Attorney General shall represent the State |
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| 16 | 16 | | in all suits and pleas in the Supreme Court of the State in which the |
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| 17 | 17 | | State may be a party, and shall especially inquire into the charter |
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| 18 | 18 | | rights of all private corporations, and from time to time, in the |
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| 19 | 19 | | name of the State, take such action in the courts as may be proper |
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| 20 | 20 | | and necessary to prevent any private corporation from exercising |
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| 21 | 21 | | any power or demanding or collecting any species of taxes, tolls, |
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| 22 | 22 | | freight or wharfage not authorized by law. The Attorney General |
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| 23 | 23 | | [He] shall, whenever sufficient cause exists, seek a judicial |
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| 24 | 24 | | forfeiture of such charters, unless otherwise expressly directed by |
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| 25 | 25 | | law, and give legal advice in writing to the Governor and other |
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| 26 | 26 | | executive officers, when requested by them, and perform such other |
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| 27 | 27 | | duties as may be required by law. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this |
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| 29 | 29 | | constitution, the Attorney General shall have concurrent |
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| 30 | 30 | | jurisdiction with each county or district attorney of this State to |
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| 31 | 31 | | represent this State in the prosecution of a criminal offense |
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| 32 | 32 | | committed by a peace officer acting in the course and scope of the |
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| 33 | 33 | | officer's official duties. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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| 35 | 35 | | submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025. |
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| 36 | 36 | | The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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| 37 | 37 | | proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the |
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| 38 | 38 | | attorney general to prosecute a criminal offense committed by a |
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| 39 | 39 | | peace officer acting in the course and scope of the officer's |
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| 40 | 40 | | official duties." |
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