Governor Perry Proclaims a Special Legislative Session

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

WHEREAS, federal law requires state legislatures to redraw congressional district lines after each decennial census; and

WHEREAS, the Texas legislature has not drawn new district lines to reflect the changes in Texas population since the results of the last census were released; and

WHEREAS, the people have placed the power to call and convene the legislature into special session in the hands of the Chief Executive Office of the State; and

WHEREAS, there are other issues of importance to the state that require the attention of the legislature;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, by the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, do hereby call an extraordinary session of the 78th Legislature, to be convened in the city of Austin, commencing at noon on Monday the 15th day of September 2003, for the following purposes:

To consider legislation relating to congressional redistricting.

To consider legislation relating to state fiscal management, including adjustments to certain school district fiscal matters made necessary by recent changes in state fiscal management; making related appropriations.

To consider legislation relating to the dates of certain elections, the procedures for canvassing the ballots for an election, and the counting of certain ballots voted by mail.

To consider legislation modifying the filing period and related election dates for the primary elections in Texas.

To consider legislation relating to the financing, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of toll facilities by the Texas Department of Transportation and the disposition of money generated by the driver responsibility program, fines imposed for certain traffic offenses, and certain fees collected by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas; making an appropriation.

To consider legislation relating to the reorganization of, efficiency in, and other reform measures applying to state government.

To consider legislation appropriating fees established by legislation from the 78th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature that remain unappropriated. This matter shall be strictly construed to only include fees that were established during that session of the legislature.

Legislation relating to making an appropriation for the purpose of returning to a fund outside of the state treasury cash that was transferred from the fund to the general revenue fund.

The Secretary of State will take notice of this action and will notify the members of the Legislature.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 9th day of September, 2003.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas

ATTEST:
GEOFFREY S. CONNOR
Secretary of State