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