By Gutierrez H.B. No. 2071 75R6531 ESH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to qualifications required to hold the office of 1-3 constable. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 86, Local Government Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 86.0021 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 86.0021. QUALIFICATIONS. A person is not eligible to 1-8 serve as constable unless the person: 1-9 (1) has a high school diploma or a high school 1-10 equivalency certificate; and 1-11 (2) is eligible to be licensed under Section 415.058 1-12 and 415.059, Government Code. 1-13 SECTION 2. Section 86.0021, Local Government Code, as added 1-14 by this Act, applies only to a person elected or appointed to the 1-15 office of constable on or after January 1, 1998. 1-16 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 1998, but only 1-17 if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 75th Legislature, 1-18 Regular Session, 1997, allowing the legislature to prescribe the 1-19 qualifications of constables, is approved by the voters. If that 1-20 amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. 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.