88S30780 BEF-F
	By: Clardy	H.J.R. No. 8

	A JOINT RESOLUTION
	proposing a constitutional amendment providing requirements for
	the exercise of the power of impeachment by the House of
	Representatives and providing that officers against whom articles
	of impeachment are preferred receive pay during the pendency of
	impeachment proceedings.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 1, Article XV, Texas Constitution, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 1.  (a) The power of impeachment shall be vested in the
	House of Representatives.
	(b)  When exercising the power of impeachment, the House of
	Representatives must:
	(1)  conduct a thorough, even-handed investigation of
	all articles of impeachment;
	(2)  ensure all testimony presented to and considered
	by the House of Representatives is provided under oath;
	(3)  provide any officer against whom articles of
	impeachment may be preferred and the officer's legal counsel the
	opportunity to:
	(A)  be present during all hearings before the
	House of Representatives and committees of the House of
	Representatives; and
	(B)  examine the witnesses and evidence against
	the officer; and
	(4)  provide the members of the House of
	Representatives at least 14 calendar days to review all records
	pertaining to articles of impeachment before voting on the articles
	of impeachment.
	SECTION 2.  Section 5, Article XV, Texas Constitution, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 5.  All officers against whom articles of impeachment
	may be preferred shall be suspended, with pay, from the exercise of
	the duties of their office[,] during the pendency of such
	impeachment. The Governor may make a provisional appointment to
	fill the vacancy[,] occasioned by the suspension of an officer
	until the decision on the impeachment.
	SECTION 3.  The following temporary provision is added to
	the Texas Constitution:
	TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
	to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th Legislature,
	3rd Called Session, 2023, providing requirements for the exercise
	of the power of impeachment by the House of Representatives and
	providing that officers against whom articles of impeachment are
	preferred receive pay during the pendency of impeachment
	proceedings.
	(b)  The amendments to Sections 1 and 5, Article XV, of this
	constitution take effect January 1, 2025, and apply only to an
	impeachment that is subject to a vote by the House of
	Representatives on the question of impeachment on or after that
	date.
	(c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2026.
	SECTION 4.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
	submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2024.
	The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
	proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing requirements
	for the exercise of the power of impeachment by the House of
	Representatives and providing that officers against whom articles
	of impeachment are preferred receive pay during the pendency of
	impeachment proceedings."