By Edwards                                             H.B. No. 395
       74R3227 ESH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to a nonbinding referendum on prayer in public schools.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Referendum on Prayer in Public Schools.  At a
    1-5  general election to be held on November 7, 1995, the voters shall
    1-6  be permitted to vote in a referendum to express their opinion on
    1-7  whether prayer should be permitted in public schools.
    1-8        SECTION 2.  Ballot Proposition.  The ballot shall be printed
    1-9  to permit voting for or against the proposition:  "Permitting
   1-10  prayer in public schools."
   1-11        SECTION 3.  Form of Ballot.  The proposition shall be printed
   1-12  on the ballot beneath any proposed constitutional amendments under
   1-13  the heading:  "Referendum Proposition."  Beneath the heading shall
   1-14  be printed the following:  "This referendum is an expression of
   1-15  public opinion only and has no binding effect as law."
   1-16        SECTION 4.  Election Procedure.  (a)  Notice of the election
   1-17  shall be given by inclusion of the proposition in the proclamation
   1-18  by the governor ordering the election on the proposed amendments to
   1-19  the state constitution, if any, and in the notice of that election
   1-20  given by each county judge.  If proposed amendments to the state
   1-21  constitution are not to be voted on in conjunction with the
   1-22  referendum, notice of the election shall be given and the election
   1-23  shall be held in the manner applicable to a constitutional
   1-24  amendment election.
    2-1        (b)  Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be
    2-2  made and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on proposed
    2-3  constitutional amendments.
    2-4        (c)  Immediately after the results of the election are
    2-5  certified by the governor, the secretary of state shall transmit a
    2-6  copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and the
    2-7  speaker of the house of representatives.
    2-8        SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
    2-9  and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-10  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-11  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-12  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.