1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the jurisdiction of justice courts.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 27.034(a), Government Code, is amended to

 1-5     read as follows:

 1-6           (a)  A [In a county with a population of 2.8 million or more,

 1-7     a] justice court has jurisdiction of suits relating to enforcement

 1-8     of a deed restriction of a residential subdivision that does not

 1-9     concern a structural change to a dwelling.

1-10           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-15     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-16     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 614 was passed by the House on April

         8, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 2, 1 present, not

         voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 614 was passed by the Senate on May

         7, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor