By Garcia                                        H.J.R. No. 3

      75R5215 MWV-D                           

                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the jurisdiction

 1-2     of the justice of the peace courts of  Dallas County.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 19, Article V, Texas Constitution, is

 1-5     amended to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 19.   (a)  Justice of the peace courts shall have

 1-7     original jurisdiction in criminal matters of misdemeanor cases

 1-8     punishable by fine only, exclusive jurisdiction in civil matters

 1-9     where the amount in controversy is two hundred dollars or less, and

1-10     such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law.  Justices of the

1-11     peace shall be ex officio notaries public.

1-12           (b)  The legislature may grant the justice of the peace

1-13     courts of Dallas County jurisdiction in addition to the

1-14     jurisdiction otherwise provided  by law.

1-15           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

1-16     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

1-17     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

1-18     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to allow the

1-19     legislature to grant the justice of the peace courts of Dallas

1-20     County jurisdiction in addition to the jurisdiction otherwise

1-21     provided by law."