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Summary of 12 October 1997 Meeting (Rough Notes)

Session reconvened at 9:02 A.M. on October 12, 1997, both the Chair and the secretary of the convention being present. The secreetary certifed that a quorum (11) was present. Chair asked that the delegates update the delegates' contact list as passed around. Chair reviewed the list of standing committees and members and same was corrected by consensus of the convention and updated to include all standing committees. Wanjura suggested that committee of the whole sessions to be chaired by Angwin on the agenda be assigned to other moderators - discussion. Burnett moved to strike Article IX, the People, from the constitutional outline, second by Wanjura, motion carried unanimously. By consensus Revenue moderated by Wanjura, and Transition moderated by Burnett. Moved motions by Burnett previously under Article IX on agenda into Article VI, Elections, also by consensus of the delegates seated. Chair declared committee of the whole discussion on Judicial system, county court level. Discussion of county court grand jury issues. Agreed to consider that agenda item complete for purposes of discussion by committee of the whole, committee on law will continue to meet via email, Sara Lowe and Robert Kesterson to be added to the law committee membership. Report of Rights committee, Greg Scales not present, Wes Burnett reporting. Handout on Article 1, Declaration of Individual Rights, for discussion as committee of the whole, Burnett moderating. Returned to regular session, Chair declared recess until 1:00 P.M. Recessed at 11:30 A.M. Reconvened at 1:05 P.M. by Chair, who turned the gavel over to Burnett to moderate the committee of the whole in discussion of Article 1. Burnett returned the gavel to the Chair. Burnett moved that the declaration of rights as amended by the committee of the whole be adopted as Article I of the constitution, second by Sudbury. Discussion. Motion carried unanimously. Burnett was granted the floor to discuss the need to include as a function of national government the maintenance of existing public rights of way, proposed to add item 12 to national government functions, to maintain existing public rights of way that extend beyond the boundaries of any one county. Chair passed the gavel to Wanjura to moderate committee of the whole. Consensus was to accept the addition to national government functions proposed by Burnett. Wanjura read the itemized functions of the national and county governments as previously discussed at the second session. Convention agreed by consensus that the functions as written are not yet in proper form to be included in the constitution, and that discussion will be continued at the next session. Wanjura returned the gavel to the Chair. Kewsterson moved to adjourn until November 8,, 1997, at 9:00 A.M. in the same location. The fifth session of the Texas Constitutional Convention 1997 adjourned at 2:25 P.M. on October 12, 1997.

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