Texas Constitution:Article III, Section 24: Difference between revisions
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Between 1881 and 1991, the Legislature passed twenty-five proposed amendments affecting this section. Only five of those were approved by voters. Amendments were approved in 1930, 1954, 1960, 1975, and 1991. | Between 1881 and 1991, the Legislature passed twenty-five proposed amendments affecting this section. Only five of those were approved by voters. Amendments were approved in 1930, 1954, 1960, 1975, and 1991. | ||
The 1960 amendment added a salary component to legislators' allowed compensation. The ballot [https://www.lrl.texas.gov/scanned/sessionLaws/56-0/HJR_3.pdf proposition], approved by 56% of voters, read | The 1960 amendment added a salary component to legislators' allowed compensation. The ballot [https://www.lrl.texas.gov/scanned/sessionLaws/56-0/HJR_3.pdf proposition], approved by 56% of voters, read: "[T]he "constitutional amendment allowing an annual salary of not to exceed four thousand, eight hundred dollars ($4,800) per year and a per diem allowance of not to exceed twelve dollars ($12) per day for the first one hundred and twenty (120) days only of each session of the Legislature as the maximum compensation for members of the Legislature and limiting the regular session to one hundred and forty (140) days." The 1975 amendment increased legislators' salary to its current level and the 1991 amendment added language regarding the Texas Ethics Commission's authority. | ||
The Texas Attorney General, in Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. [https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1967/cm0104.pdf#page=3 M-104] (1967), opined that: "[The 1960 amendment to this section provided] in addition to per diem and traveling expenses an annual salary for members of the Legislature, thus recognizing that official duties of members of the Legislature are performed throughout the year and are not limited to duties performed while the Legislature is in session." And, in Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. [https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1969/cm0408.pdf#page=6 M-408] (1969), he opined that: "[W]e are of the opinion that there exists no constitutional inhibition as to the use of state funds and their application to group sickness and accident policy premium payments for legislators themselves. . . . We do not interpret such a benefit as additional 'salary', 'per diem' or 'mileage', as those terms are used in Article III, Section 24 of the Constitution of Texas." Finally, in Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. [https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1991/dm0023.pdf#page=4 DM-23] (1991), he opined that: "Although the 1960 and 1975 amendments to article III, section 24, dispensed with the presumption that interim expenses were personal expenses, the amendment did not alter the conclusion that the constitution prohibits payment of personal expenses or compensation to members of the legislature in addition to the amounts provided for in that section." | The Texas Attorney General, in Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. [https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1967/cm0104.pdf#page=3 M-104] (1967), opined that: "[The 1960 amendment to this section provided] in addition to per diem and traveling expenses an annual salary for members of the Legislature, thus recognizing that official duties of members of the Legislature are performed throughout the year and are not limited to duties performed while the Legislature is in session." And, in Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. [https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1969/cm0408.pdf#page=6 M-408] (1969), he opined that: "[W]e are of the opinion that there exists no constitutional inhibition as to the use of state funds and their application to group sickness and accident policy premium payments for legislators themselves. . . . We do not interpret such a benefit as additional 'salary', 'per diem' or 'mileage', as those terms are used in Article III, Section 24 of the Constitution of Texas." Finally, in Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. [https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/1991/dm0023.pdf#page=4 DM-23] (1991), he opined that: "Although the 1960 and 1975 amendments to article III, section 24, dispensed with the presumption that interim expenses were personal expenses, the amendment did not alter the conclusion that the constitution prohibits payment of personal expenses or compensation to members of the legislature in addition to the amounts provided for in that section." | ||
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|seo_title=Featured Article: Article III, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution ("Compensation and Expenses of Legislators; Duration of Regular Sessions") | |seo_title=Featured Article: Article III, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution ("Compensation and Expenses of Legislators; Duration of Regular Sessions") | ||
|seo_keywords=Article 3 Section 24, legislator | |seo_keywords=Article 3 Section 24, legislator compensation, legislator benefits | ||
|seo_description=Between 1881 and 1991, the Legislature passed twenty-five proposed amendments affecting this section. Only five of those were approved. | |seo_description=Between 1881 and 1991, the Legislature passed twenty-five proposed amendments affecting this section. Only five of those were approved. | ||
|seo_image=mod_Texas_Constitution_of_1876_Article_3.jpg | |seo_image=mod_Texas_Constitution_of_1876_Article_3.jpg | ||