1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the requirements for certain agricultural fences.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 143.028(b), Agriculture Code, is amended

 1-5     to read as follows:

 1-6           (b)  In order to be sufficient, a fence must be built and

 1-7     maintained according to generally accepted agricultural practices

 1-8     for the  purpose of keeping animals out of a tract of land [at

 1-9     least four feet high and comply with the following requirements:]

1-10                 [(1)  a barbed wire fence must consist of three wires

1-11     on posts no more than 30 feet apart, with one or more stays between

1-12     every two posts;]

1-13                 [(2)  a picket fence must consist of pickets that are

1-14     not more than six inches apart;]

1-15                 [(3)  a board fence must consist of three boards not

1-16     less than five inches wide and one inch thick; and]

1-17                 [(4)  a rail fence must consist of four rails].

1-18           SECTION 2.  Section 143.028(c), Agriculture Code, is

1-19     repealed.

1-20           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-21           SECTION 4.  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.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1630 was passed by the House on April

         3, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1630 was passed by the Senate on May

         13, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor