By Danburg H.B. No. 638 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to combining certain county election precincts. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 42, Election Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Section 42.0051 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 42.0051. COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS. (a) If changes 1-7 in county election precinct boundaries to give effect to a 1-8 redistricting plan result in county election precincts with a 1-9 number of registered voters less than 500, a commissioners court 1-10 for a general or special election, or for a primary election the 1-11 county executive committee of a political party conducting a 1-12 primary election, may combine county election precincts 1-13 notwithstanding Section 42.005 to avoid unreasonable expenditures 1-14 for election equipment, supplies, and personnel. 1-15 (b) A combined precinct under this section is subject to the 1-16 maximum population prescribed for a precinct under Section 42.006. 1-17 (c) A combined precinct may not be established if it: 1-18 (1) results in a dilution of voting strength of a 1-19 group covered by the federal Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1-20 1973c et seq.); 1-21 (2) results in a dilution of representation of a group 1-22 covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral 1-23 process or procedure; or 1-24 (3) results in discouraging participation by a group 2-1 covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral 2-2 process or procedure because of the location of a polling place or 2-3 other factors. 2-4 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-9 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-10 passage, and it is so enacted.