By Heflin                                             H.B. No. 1915
       74R2045 DRH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to certain criminal penalties in connection with a
    1-3  petition for an initiative or referendum measure.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Title 16, Election Code, is amended by adding
    1-6  Chapter 278 to read as follows:
    1-7      CHAPTER 278.  PETITION FOR INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE
    1-8        Sec. 278.001.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  This chapter
    1-9  applies only to a petition for an initiative or referendum measure
   1-10  proposed under Section 1A or 1B, Article III, Texas Constitution.
   1-11        Sec. 278.002.  UNLAWFUL USE OF PETITION FORM.  (a)  A person
   1-12  commits an offense if the person knowingly uses a petition in a
   1-13  form that is not approved by the secretary of state.
   1-14        (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
   1-15        Sec. 278.003.  COMPENSATION FOR PETITION CIRCULATION
   1-16  PROHIBITED.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person
   1-17  knowingly compensates another person for circulating a petition for
   1-18  signatures.
   1-19        (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
   1-20        Sec. 278.004.  UNLAWFULLY OBTAINING SIGNATURES.  (a)  A
   1-21  person commits an offense if the person knowingly obtains a
   1-22  signature on a petition from a person who is not eligible to sign
   1-23  the petition.
   1-24        (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
    2-1        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect on the date on which the
    2-2  constitutional amendment proposed by the 74th Legislature, Regular
    2-3  Session, 1995, reserving to the people the powers of initiative and
    2-4  referendum, takes effect.  If that amendment is not approved by the
    2-5  voters, this Act has no effect.
    2-6        SECTION 3.  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.