By Denny H.B. No. 2785 75R3893 DRH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the composition of the teams counting regular paper 1-3 ballots in certain elections. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 65.001, Election Code, is amended to read 1-6 as follows: 1-7 Sec. 65.001. COUNTING OFFICERS. (a) At each polling place, 1-8 the ballots shall be counted by one or more teams of election 1-9 officers assigned by the presiding judge. Each team must consist 1-10 of two or more election officers. 1-11 (b) In the general election for state and county officers or 1-12 a special election to fill a vacancy in an office regularly filled 1-13 at the general election, each team counting regular paper ballots, 1-14 to the extent possible, must be composed of election officers who 1-15 are affiliated or aligned with different political parties. 1-16 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-17 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.