By Place                                         H.J.R. No. 9

      75R6276 CAG-D                           

                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize Comanche County

 1-2     to have more than one precinct for justices of the peace and a

 1-3     single precinct for constable.

 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 18, Article V, Texas Constitution, is

 1-6     amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g) to

 1-7     read as follows:

 1-8           (a)  Each county in the State with a population of 30,000 or

 1-9     more, according to the most recent federal  census, from time to

1-10     time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not

1-11     less than four and not more than eight precincts.  Each county in

1-12     the State with a population of 18,000 or more but less than 30,000,

1-13     according to the most recent federal census, from time to time, for

1-14     the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not less than

1-15     two and not more than five precincts.  Each county in the State

1-16     with a population of less than 18,000, according to the most recent

1-17     federal census, from time to time, for the convenience of the

1-18     people, shall be designated as a single precinct or, if the

1-19     Commissioners Court determines that the county needs more than one

1-20     precinct, shall be divided into not more than four precincts.

1-21     Notwithstanding the population requirements of this subsection,

1-22     Chambers County, from time to time, for the convenience of the

1-23     people, shall be divided into not less than two and not more than

1-24     six precincts.  A division or designation under this subsection

 2-1     shall be made by the Commissioners Court provided for by this

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

 2-3     section, in each such precinct there shall be elected one Justice

 2-4     of the Peace and one Constable, each of whom shall hold his office

 2-5     for four years and until his successor shall be elected and

 2-6     qualified; provided that in a county with a population of less than

 2-7     150,000, according to the most recent federal census, in any

 2-8     precinct in which there may be a city of 18,000 or more

 2-9     inhabitants, there shall be elected two Justices of the Peace, and

2-10     in a county with a population of 150,000 or more, according to the

2-11     most recent federal census, each precinct may contain more than one

2-12     Justice of the Peace Court.

2-13           (g)  If the Commissioners Court of Comanche County divides

2-14     the county into more than one precinct under Subsection (a), the

2-15     Commissioners Court may apply those precincts to Justices  of the

2-16     Peace and may treat the  county as a single precinct for purposes

2-17     of the Constable.

2-18           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

2-19     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

2-20     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

2-21     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment authorizing Comanche

2-22     County to have more than one precinct for justices of the peace and

2-23     a single precinct for constable."