By Gallego                                             H.B. No. 853
       74R850 MJW-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the effect of death or divorce on a marriage for the
    1-3  purpose of applying nepotism prohibitions.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 573.024(b), Government Code, is amended
    1-6  to read as follows:
    1-7        (b)  The ending of a marriage by divorce or the death of a
    1-8  spouse ends relationships by affinity created by that marriage
    1-9  unless a child younger than 21 years of age of that marriage is
   1-10  living, in which case the marriage is considered to continue until
   1-11  the youngest living child of the marriage becomes 21 years of age
   1-12  <as long as a child of that marriage lives>.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  The amendment by this Act of Section 573.024(b),
   1-14  Government Code, does not affect a violation of Chapter 573,
   1-15  Government Code, that occurred before September 1, 1995.  A prior
   1-16  violation is subject to enforcement in the same manner that would
   1-17  apply if that section were not amended by this Act, and the prior
   1-18  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
   1-19        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-20        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-21  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-22  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-23  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-24  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.