By: Turner, S. H.B. No. 663 73R3299 DWS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the filling of vacancies on the governing bodies of 1-3 certain municipalities. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 26, Local Government Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 26.045 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 26.045. FILLING VACANCY ON GOVERNING BODY OF 1-8 MUNICIPALITY WITH POPULATION OF 1.5 MILLION OR MORE. If a vacancy 1-9 occurs on the governing body of a municipality with a population of 1-10 1.5 million or more and more than 270 days remain before the date 1-11 of the next general election of members of the governing body, the 1-12 governing body shall order a special election in the district in 1-13 which the vacancy occurred, or in the entire municipality if the 1-14 vacancy occurred in an at-large position, to fill the vacancy. The 1-15 special election shall be held on an authorized uniform election 1-16 date prescribed by the Election Code that occurs before the general 1-17 election and that allows enough time to hold the election in the 1-18 manner required by law and shall be conducted in the same manner as 1-19 the municipality's general election except as provided by 1-20 provisions of the Election Code applicable to special elections to 1-21 fill vacancies. 1-22 SECTION 2. Section 26.044(j), Local Government Code, is 1-23 repealed. 1-24 SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to 2-1 a vacancy occurring on or after the effective date of this Act. A 2-2 vacancy occurring before the effective date of this Act is covered 2-3 by the law in effect when the vacancy occurred, and the former law 2-4 is continued in effect for that purpose. 2-5 SECTION 4. 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 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-11 passage, and it is so enacted.