84R6357 TJB-D
 
  By: Birdwell S.B. No. 729
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the qualifications, duties, and limitations of Texas
  delegates to a constitutional convention called under Article V of
  the United States Constitution.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle Z, Title 3, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 393 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 393. DELEGATES TO FEDERAL ARTICLE V CONVENTIONS
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 393.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Alternate delegate" means an individual
  appointed under Section 393.052 to represent this state as an
  alternate delegate at an Article V convention.
               (2)  "Article V convention" means a constitutional
  convention called by the United States Congress under Article V of
  the United States Constitution.
               (3)  "Delegate" means:
                     (A)  an individual appointed under Section
  393.052 to represent this state as a delegate at an Article V
  convention; or
                     (B)  an alternate delegate who fills a vacancy in
  the office of the alternate delegate's paired delegate.
               (4)  "Unauthorized vote" means a vote cast by a
  delegate or alternate delegate at an Article V convention that:
                     (A)  is contrary to the instructions adopted under
  Section 393.101 in effect at the time the vote is taken; or
                     (B)  exceeds the scope or subject matter of the
  Article V convention as authorized by the legislature in the
  application to the United States Congress to call the convention.
         Sec. 393.002.  RULES AND PROCEDURES. (a) The legislature by
  concurrent resolution shall provide the rules and procedures
  necessary to implement this chapter.
         (b)  A legislative action relating to the appointment or
  recall of delegates or alternate delegates, the adoption or
  modification of instructions, or the determination of an
  unauthorized vote may be accomplished through a joint resolution
  adopted by each house.
  SUBCHAPTER B. DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE DELEGATES
         Sec. 393.051.  QUALIFICATIONS. To be eligible to serve as a
  delegate or alternate delegate an individual must:
               (1)  be a qualified voter as defined by Section 11.002,
  Election Code;
               (2)  not be required to register as a lobbyist under
  Chapter 305; and
               (3)  not hold an elected federal office.
         Sec. 393.052.  APPOINTMENT. (a) As soon as possible
  following the calling of an Article V convention, the legislature
  shall appoint:
               (1)  the number of delegates allocated to represent the
  state at the Article V convention and an equal number of alternate
  delegates; or
               (2)  two delegates and two alternate delegates if no
  allocation is made.
         (b)  The legislature shall pair each alternate delegate with
  a delegate at the time each appointment is made.
         Sec. 393.053.  VACANCY. (a) An alternate delegate
  automatically fills a vacancy in the office of the alternate
  delegate's paired delegate.
         (b)  The legislature shall fill a vacancy in the office of an
  alternate delegate in the manner provided by Section 393.052.
         Sec. 393.054.  RECALL. (a) The legislature may recall a
  delegate or alternate delegate.
         (b)  The legislature shall fill a vacancy created by the
  recall of a delegate or alternate delegate in the manner provided by
  Section 393.053.
         Sec. 393.055.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. (a)
  A delegate or alternate delegate is not entitled to compensation
  for service as a delegate or alternate delegate.
         (b)  A delegate or alternate delegate is entitled to
  reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in performance of
  official duties, subject to any applicable limitation on
  reimbursement provided by general law or the General Appropriations
  Act.
         Sec. 393.056.  OATH. (a) An individual appointed as a
  delegate or alternate delegate must take the following oath before
  voting or taking an action as a delegate or alternate delegate of
  this state: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that to the best of my
  abilities, I will, as a delegate or alternate delegate to the
  Article V Convention, act according to the limits of the authority
  granted to me as a delegate or alternate delegate by Texas law, will
  not consider or vote to approve an amendment to the United States
  Constitution not authorized by the Texas Legislature in its
  application to the United States Congress to call this convention,
  and will faithfully abide by and execute any instructions to
  delegates or alternate delegates adopted by the Texas Legislature."
         (b)  Each delegate and alternate delegate must file the
  executed oath with the secretary of state.
  SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES OF DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE DELEGATES
         Sec. 393.101.  INSTRUCTIONS TO DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE
  DELEGATES. (a) At the time delegates and alternate delegates are
  appointed, the legislature shall adopt instructions to the
  delegates and alternate delegates to govern the actions of those
  officers at the Article V convention. 
         (b)  The legislature may not adopt instructions that
  authorize a delegate or alternate delegate to consider or vote to
  approve an amendment to the United States Constitution that is not
  authorized by the legislature in its application to the United
  States Congress to call the Article V convention.
         (c)  The legislature may amend the instructions at any time.
         Sec. 393.102.  DUTY OF ALTERNATE DELEGATE. An alternate
  delegate shall act in the place of the alternate delegate's paired
  delegate when the delegate is absent from the convention.
         Sec. 393.103.  UNAUTHORIZED VOTE. (a) A delegate or
  alternate delegate may not cast an unauthorized vote.
         (b)  The determination that a vote is an unauthorized vote
  may only be made by the legislature.
         (c)  A vote determined to be an unauthorized vote is invalid. 
         (d)  A delegate or alternate delegate who casts a vote
  determined to be an unauthorized vote is disqualified to continue
  to serve as a delegate or alternate delegate. The legislature shall
  fill a vacancy created by a disqualification under this subsection
  in the manner provided by Section 393.053.
         (e)  The legislature shall promptly notify the head of the
  state delegation and the presiding officer of the Article V
  convention if the legislature determines that a delegate or
  alternate delegate has cast an unauthorized vote.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.