By Greenberg                                          H.B. No. 3117
       74R1527 DRH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to a referendum on rules for the issuance of a license to
    1-3  carry a handgun.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Referendum on Licenses to Carry Handguns.  At a
    1-6  general election to be held on November 7, 1995, the voters shall
    1-7  be permitted to vote in a referendum to express their opinion on
    1-8  whether the Department of Public Safety should adopt rules for the
    1-9  issuance of licenses to carry handguns.
   1-10        SECTION 2.  Ballot Proposition.  The ballot shall be printed
   1-11  to provide for voting for or against the proposition:  "Authorizing
   1-12  the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules for licensing and
   1-13  training qualified citizens to carry handguns for self-protection."
   1-14        SECTION 3.  Form of Ballot.  The proposition shall be printed
   1-15  on the ballot beneath any proposed constitutional amendments under
   1-16  the heading:  "Referendum Proposition."  Beneath the heading shall
   1-17  be printed the following:  "This referendum is an expression of
   1-18  public opinion only and has no binding effect as law."
   1-19        SECTION 4.  Election Procedure.  (a)  Notice of the election
   1-20  shall be given by inclusion of the proposition in the proclamation
   1-21  by the governor ordering the election on the proposed amendments to
   1-22  the state constitution, if any, and in the notice of that election
   1-23  given by each county judge.  If proposed amendments to the state
   1-24  constitution are not to be voted on in conjunction with the
    2-1  referendum, notice of the election shall be given and the election
    2-2  shall be held in the manner applicable to a constitutional
    2-3  amendment election.
    2-4        (b)  Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be
    2-5  made and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on proposed
    2-6  constitutional amendments.
    2-7        (c)  Immediately after the results of the election are
    2-8  certified by the governor, the secretary of state shall transmit a
    2-9  copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and the
   2-10  speaker of the house of representatives.
   2-11        SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
   2-12  and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-13  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-14  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-15  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.