By Madden                                             H.B. No. 2555
       74R4392 DRH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the wording of a proposition submitting a proposed
    1-3  constitutional amendment.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 274.001, Election Code, is amended to
    1-6  read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 274.001.  Form of Amendment on Ballot.  (a)  The
    1-8  legislature shall prescribe the wording of the proposition
    1-9  submitting a proposed constitutional amendment in terms that
   1-10  clearly express its scope and character.
   1-11        (b)  If the legislature fails to prescribe the wording of the
   1-12  proposition submitting a proposed constitutional amendment, the
   1-13  secretary of state shall prescribe it.
   1-14        (c) <(b)>  The proposition prescribed by the secretary of
   1-15  state must describe the proposed amendment in terms that clearly
   1-16  express its scope and character.
   1-17        (d) <(c)>  The governor shall include the proposition in the
   1-18  proclamation ordering the election at which the constitutional
   1-19  amendment will be submitted.
   1-20        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-21        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-22  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-23  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-24  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-1  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.