November Constitutional Amendment Election: Amendments 7, 8, And 9
The November constitutional amendment election is just around the corner. This year, the first Tuesday of November falls on November 5, 2013 (Election Day). Before you can vote on Election Day, it is important to make sure you have everything in place and to know what you will have the opportunity to vote on.
This year, you will have the opportunity to vote on nine constitutional amendments. Below is a brief analysis of proposed constitutional amendments 7, 8 and 9 as they are placed on the ballot with the use of information provided by the Texas Legislative Council*:
1. Amendment No. 7 (H.J.R. 87) – As worded on the ballot “The constitutional amendment authorizing a home-rule municipality to provide in its charter the procedure to fill a vacancy on its governing body for which the unexpired term is 12 months or less.” Amendment No. 7 proposes to authorize in a home-rule municipality, a means to provide in its charter a procedure to fill a vacancy of a term of office for a member of a governing municipal body is more than two years but less than four. Currently the Texas Constitution prohibits the appointment of a person to fill a vacancy on the governing body of a municipality.
2. Amendment No. 8 (S.J.R. 54 and H.J.R. 147) – As worded on the ballot “The constitutional amendment repealing Section 7, Article IX, Texas Constitution, which relates to the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County.” Amendment No. 8 proposes to repeal Section 7, Article IX, of the Texas Constitution, which permits the legislature to authorize the creation of a hospital district with the same boundaries as Hidalgo County. Additionally, this would limit the authorized property tax rate that its hospital district may impose to 10 cents per $100 of valuation on the taxable property within that district. The repeal of this provision does not prevent Hidalgo County from creating a hospital district in or in an area within that county.
3. Amendment No. 9 (S.J.R. 42) – As worded on the ballot “The constitutional amendment relating to expanding the types of sanctions that may be assessed against a judge or justice following a formal proceeding instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct” Amendment No. 9 proposes to authorize the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to issue certain types of private or public sanctions against a judge or justice in the State of Texas, following an investigation but without formal proceedings. In addition to that, the provision would allow the commission a number of processes to provide sanctions that are primarily punitive in nature, such as the removal or retirement of a judge or justice. Also, this proposed amendment would expand the available sanctions for assessment by the commission following a formal proceeding by the commission to authorize and issue an order of public admonition, warning, reprimand, or requirement that the judge or justice obtain additional education or training in addition to the currently authorize punitive sanctions. This proposed amendment would apply to only a formal proceeding instituted by the commission on or after January 1, 2014.
You can view the proposed constitutional amendments at Texas Legislative Council.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol Office at 512-463-0672 or my District Office at 361-949-4603. My offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments.
– State Representative Todd A. Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
*The mission of the Texas Legislative Council is to provide professional, nonpartisan service and support to the Texas Legislature and legislative agencies.
