By Puente                                        H.B. No. 543

      75R2048 GGS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the use of a candidate's nickname on the ballot.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 52.031(c), Election Code, is amended to

 1-5     read as follows:

 1-6           (c)  A nickname of one unhyphenated word of not more than 10

 1-7     letters by which the candidate has been commonly known for at least

 1-8     three [two] years [immediately] preceding the election may be used

 1-9     in combination with a candidate's name.  A nickname that

1-10     constitutes a slogan or otherwise indicates a political, economic,

1-11     social, or religious view or affiliation may not be used. A

1-12     nickname may  not be used unless the candidate executes and files

1-13     with the application for a place on the ballot an affidavit

1-14     indicating that the nickname complies with this subsection.

1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.