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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas |
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Redistricting Commission to redistrict the Texas Legislature and |
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Texas congressional districts and revising procedures for |
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redistricting. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 28a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28a. (a) The Texas Redistricting Commission exercises |
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the legislative authority of this state to adopt redistricting |
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plans for the election of the Texas House of Representatives, the |
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Texas Senate, and the members of the United States House of |
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Representatives elected from this state. Districts for those |
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legislative bodies may not be established or changed except as |
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provided by this section. |
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(b) The commission consists of seven members selected as |
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follows: |
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(1) one member appointed by the member of the Texas |
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Senate with the most seniority, as defined by senate rules; |
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(2) one member appointed by the member of the Texas |
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Senate with the most seniority, as defined by senate rules, who is |
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of a different political party than the member described by |
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Subdivision (1) of this subsection; |
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(3) one member appointed by the member of the Texas |
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House of Representatives with the most seniority, as defined by |
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house rules; |
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(4) one member appointed by the member of the Texas |
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House of Representatives with the most seniority, as defined by |
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house rules, who is of a different political party than the member |
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described by Subdivision (3) of this subsection; |
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(5) one member appointed by an affirmative vote of not |
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fewer than three of the members of the commission selected under |
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Subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection; and |
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(6) two members appointed by the member appointed |
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under Subdivision (5) of this subsection who must be retired |
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federal judges appointed to the federal bench by presidents of |
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different political parties. |
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(c) The members of the commission shall appoint one of the |
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members to serve as presiding officer by an affirmative vote of a |
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majority of the members of the commission. |
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(d) Each member of the commission must be a resident of this |
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state and have relevant skills and abilities, including analytical |
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skills, the capacity for impartiality, and an appreciation for the |
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diverse demographics and geography of the state. A person is not |
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eligible to serve on the commission if the person: |
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(1) holds an elective or appointive public office, |
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other than the office of retired federal judge if the member is |
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appointed under Subsection (b)(6) of this section or an office on |
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the governing body of a school district; |
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(2) holds an office in a political party; |
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(3) is employed by: |
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(A) an elected or appointed public official; |
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(B) a candidate for the legislature or the United |
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States Congress; or |
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(C) an entity whose principal purpose is to |
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support or oppose a candidate described by Paragraph (B) of this |
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subdivision; |
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(4) has served in a position described by Subdivision |
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(1), (2), or (3) of this subsection within the three years preceding |
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the date the person is appointed to the commission; |
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(5) is required by law to register with the Texas |
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Ethics Commission on account of the person's communications with |
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state officers to influence legislation or administrative action, |
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or was required to register in that capacity in the three years |
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preceding the date the person was appointed to the commission; or |
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(6) is related to an elected or appointed public |
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official within the second degree by consanguinity, as determined |
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under general law governing consanguinity. |
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(e) The full term of a member of the commission is a 10-year |
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term that begins on February 1 of the year ending in 1 in which the |
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initial appointment to the position is required to be made and |
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expires on January 31 of the next year ending in 1.
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