73R413 JJT-D By Bosse H.B. No. 564 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to write-in candidacy in certain water district elections. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 50, Water Code, is amended 1-5 by adding Section 50.004 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 50.004. WRITE-IN VOTING IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS. (a) In 1-7 a general election for board members under Chapter 51, 53, or 54 of 1-8 this code, a write-in vote may not be counted unless the name 1-9 written in appears on the list of write-in candidates. 1-10 (b) To be entitled to a place on the list of write-in 1-11 candidates, a candidate must make a declaration of write-in 1-12 candidacy. 1-13 (c) A declaration of write-in candidacy must be filed with 1-14 the authority with whom an application for a place on the ballot is 1-15 required to be filed in the election. 1-16 (d) A declaration of write-in candidacy must be filed not 1-17 later than 5 p.m. of the 30th day before election day. However, if 1-18 a candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot dies or is 1-19 declared ineligible after the 33rd day before election day, a 1-20 declaration of write-in candidacy for the office sought by the 1-21 deceased or ineligible candidate may be filed not later than 5 p.m. 1-22 of the 27th day before election day. 1-23 (e) Subchapter B, Chapter 146, Election Code, applies to 1-24 write-in voting in a general election for board members except to 2-1 the extent of a conflict with this section. 2-2 (f) The secretary of state shall adopt the rules necessary 2-3 to implement this section. 2-4 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993. 2-5 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 2-10 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 2-11 On line 7, add "52", between "51", and "53". 2-12 On line 17, replace "30th" day, with "5th" day. 2-13 On line 17, strike the words beginning with "However" and 2-14 ending with "day", on line 22. 2-15 Hochberg