73R2170 GGS-D 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 200, or 25 percent of the 1-10 maximum number of registered voters prescribed by Section 42.006, 1-11 whichever is greater, a commissioners court for a general or 1-12 special election, or for a primary election the county executive 1-13 committee of a political party conducting a primary election, may 1-14 combine county election precincts notwithstanding Section 42.005 to 1-15 avoid unreasonable expenditures for election equipment, supplies, 1-16 and personnel. 1-17 (b) A combined precinct under this section is subject to the 1-18 maximum population prescribed for a precinct under Section 42.006. 1-19 (c) A combined precinct may not be established if it: 1-20 (1) results in a dilution of voting strength of a 1-21 group covered by the federal Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1-22 1973c et seq.); 1-23 (2) results in a dilution of representation of a group 1-24 covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral 2-1 process or procedure; or 2-2 (3) results in discouraging participation by a group 2-3 covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral 2-4 process or procedure because of the location of a polling place or 2-5 other factors. 2-6 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-12 passage, and it is so enacted. 2-13 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 2-14 Amend H.B. 638 as follows: On Line 8, Page 1, strike from "a 2-15 number of registered voters less than 200, or 25 percent of the 2-16 maximum number of registered voters prescribed by Section 42.006, 2-17 whichever is greater." 2-18 And add the following language: "a number of registered 2-19 voters less than 500, of the maximum number of registered voters 2-20 prescribed by Section 42.006," 2-21 Danburg