Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Fifty-Sixth Legislature Page: 102
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102 SENATE JOURNAL
"An Act relating to the construction
and operation of the jury wheel;
amending Article 2095, Revised Civil
Statutes of Texas, as amended; and
declaring an emergency.
To the Committee on Jurisprudence.
Senate Resolution 48
Senator Hardeman offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Whereas, We deem it necessary and
to the best interests of the people of
the State of Texas that a Senate Gen-
eral Investigating Committee be ap-
pointed, having the powers as herein-
after set forth; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Senate of the
State of Texas:
Section 1. That the Lieutenant-
Governor be, and he is hereby, author-
ized to appoint a committee of five
members of the Senate to sit at such
times and places between the adjourn-
ment of the Fifty-sixth Legislature
and the date of the convening of the
Regular Session of the 57th Legisla-
ture, as may to said committee seem
necessary and proper; and the com-
mittee shall continue the inquiries
heretofore begun by the committee
heretofore authorized and appointed,
relative to law violations and the ad-
ministration of all state laws and any
of the matters pertaining to or affect-
ing the revenues of the State govern-
ment, and the expenditures of taxes,
fees, and assessments, and to inquire
into any other affairs and activities
of governmental departments and in-
stitutions of whatever kind and char-
acter, as such activities in any way
affect the financial or other welfare of
the government and the citizens of
Texas. Said committee shall make a
study of any other governmental ac-
tivity, and shall have authority to in-
vestigate and inquire into any such
matters.
Section 2. That said committee
shall have the power to formulate its
own rules of procedure and evidence,
and to provide for its own hours of
meeting, recessing, and adjournment.
Provided, however, that the rules of
evidence to be followed shall be prac-
tically the same as followed in the
courts of this State, and the commit-
tee is authorized to hold executive
sessions, within its discretion, and
then the committee may be governed
by the rules of evidence applicable to
any grand jury inquiry in this State.Section 3. That the majority of
the membership of the committee
shall have power to issue process for
witnesses to any place in this State,
and to compel their attendance, and
produce all books and records, and
upon disobedience of any subpoena
the said committee shall have the
power to issue attachments which
may be addressed to and served by
either the sergeant-at-arms appointed
by said committee or any sheriff or
any constable of this State; and said
committee shall have authority to cite
for contempt anyone disobeying said
process and to punish for such con-
tempt in the same manner as pro-
vided for by general law. Said com-
mittee shall have power to inspect and
make copies of any books, records, or
files of the departments and institu-
tions and any and all other instru-
ments and documents pertinent to the
matter under investigation by said
committee, and to take Possession of
any files, records, papers in any de-
partment or agency of the State and
to retain the same in its custody until
any investigation in which such com-
mittee may be engaged or under-
taken is completed, including any
county or political subdivision of this
State, and shall also have power to
examine and audit the books of any
person, firm, or corporation having
dealings with departments and insti-
tutions under investigation by said
committee. The committee shall have
power to administer oaths and affirm-
ations and fix the bonds of attached
witnesses; and the committee shall
further have all the powers neces-
sary in order to accomplish the pur-
poses for which it is appointed. Three
members of such committee shall con-
stitute a quorum for the transaction
of official business.
Section 4. The witnesses attend-
ing under process shall be allowed the
same mileage and per diem as is al-
lowed witnesses before any grand
jury in this State.
Section 5. Said committee shall
have power and authority to employ
and compensate all necessary investi-
gators, auditors, clerks, stenogra-
phers, and other necessary employees,
and it shall be the duty of said com-
mittee to make and keep a record of
its investigations.
Section 6. That said committee
may call upon the Attorney General's
Department, Auditing Department,
and all other departments for assist-102
SENATE JOURNAL
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Texas. Legislature. Senate. Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Fifty-Sixth Legislature, legislative document, 1959; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth142193/m1/102/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.