HBA-EDN H.J.R. 17 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.J.R. 17 By: Gallego Judicial Affairs 2/21/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current rules of the Texas Supreme Court, a judge must resign from office upon becoming a candidate for public elective office, other than a judicial office. House Joint Resolution 17 proposes to amend the Texas Constitution by defining when a judicial office becomes vacant and codifying a rule promulgated by the Texas Supreme Court. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Joint Resolution 17 amends the Texas Constitution to provide that a person holding a judicial office who announces the person's candidacy or otherwise becomes a candidate in any general, special, or primary election for any office of profit or trust under the laws of this state or the United States, other than the office held or another judicial office, vacates the judicial office on the date of the announcement or candidacy. The resolution authorizes a person to continue to hold a judicial office if the person becomes a candidate for or serves as a delegate in a state constitutional convention. The resolution provides that a vacancy created under these terms is filled in the same manner as other vacancies in the judicial office. FOR ELECTION This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.