By Turner of Coleman                             H.J.R. No. 2

      75R8349 CAG-D                           

                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish two justice

 1-2     precincts in Brown County.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 18, Article V, Texas Constitution, is

 1-5     amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g) to

 1-6     read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  Each county in the State with a population of 30,000 or

 1-8     more, according to the most recent federal  census, from time to

 1-9     time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not

1-10     less than four and not more than eight precincts.  Each county in

1-11     the State with a population of 18,000 or more but less than 30,000,

1-12     according to the most recent federal census, from time to time, for

1-13     the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not less than

1-14     two and not more than five precincts.  Each county in the State

1-15     with a population of less than 18,000, according to the most recent

1-16     federal census, from time to time, for the convenience of the

1-17     people, shall be designated as a single precinct or, if the

1-18     Commissioners Court determines that the county needs more than one

1-19     precinct, shall be divided into not more than four precincts.

1-20     Notwithstanding the population requirements of this subsection,

1-21     Chambers County, from time to time, for the convenience of the

1-22     people, shall be divided into not less than two and not more than

1-23     six precincts.  A division or designation under this subsection

1-24     shall be made by the Commissioners Court provided for by this

 2-1     Constitution.  Except as provided by [Subsection (e) of] this

 2-2     section, in each such precinct there shall be elected one Justice

 2-3     of the Peace and one Constable, each of whom shall hold his office

 2-4     for four years and until his successor shall be elected and

 2-5     qualified; provided that in a county with a population of less than

 2-6     150,000, according to the most recent federal census, in any

 2-7     precinct in which there may be a city of 18,000 or more

 2-8     inhabitants, there shall be elected two Justices of the Peace, and

 2-9     in a county with a population of 150,000 or more, according to the

2-10     most recent federal census, each precinct may contain more than one

2-11     Justice of the Peace Court.

2-12           (g)  Before January 1, 1999, the Commissioners Court of Brown

2-13     County shall divide the county into two justice precincts to take

2-14     effect on that date.  If the Commissioners Court does not divide

2-15     the county into precincts as required by this subsection:

2-16                 (1)  justice precincts one and three for Brown County,

2-17     as they exist on January 1, 1999, are combined and designated as

2-18     justice precinct one; and

2-19                 (2)  justice precincts two and four for Brown County,

2-20     as they exist on January 1, 1999, are combined and designated as

2-21     justice precinct two.

2-22           However, this subsection applies to Brown County only if, at

2-23     the statewide election at which the amendment adding this

2-24     subsection to the Constitution is submitted to the voters, a

2-25     majority of the voters of Brown County voting on the question at

2-26     that election favor the amendment.

2-27           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

 3-1     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

 3-2     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

 3-3     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment abolishing two justice

 3-4     precincts in Brown County."