This section assigns temporary legislative officers and requires certain officers to call the districts, admit or qualify eligible persons, administer oaths, and keep a journal.
Sec. 301.004. TEMPORARY OFFICERS; DUTIES. (a) If the secretary of the senate for the previous session is present, that individual shall act as temporary secretary of the senate. If the chief clerk of the house of representatives for the previous session is present, the secretary of state shall appoint that individual to act as temporary chief clerk. The presiding officer of each house of the legislature shall appoint any temporary officers necessary to ensure the organization of the legislature. (b) Under the direction of the presiding officer, the secretary of the senate or chief clerk shall call the districts of the appropriate house in numerical order regardless of whether the secretary of state has received the election returns for each district. (c) If an individual appears at the call and presents proper evidence of the individual's election, the individual shall be admitted or qualified as if the individual's election returns had been made to the secretary of state. (d) After the secretary of the senate has called the districts and the senators-elect have appeared and presented their credentials, the official oath shall be administered to each senator-elect by an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. (e) After the chief clerk has called the districts and the members-elect of the house of representatives have appeared and presented their credentials, the chief clerk shall administer the official oath to each member-elect. (f) The presiding officer of each house shall ensure that a journal of the proceedings of that house is kept. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 479, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1250 (H.B. 4181), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2019.