1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the appointment of a fire commissioner in certain rural

 1-3     fire prevention districts.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 794.033(e), Health and Safety Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (e)  To be eligible for appointment to the board of a

 1-8     district in a county with a population of 450,000 or more that has

 1-9     not established a public health district under Chapter 121, a

1-10     person must be a resident of or owner of real property in the

1-11     district.

1-12           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-17     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-18     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 718 was passed by the House on April

         3, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not

         voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 718 was passed by the Senate on April

         24, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor