By Keffer                                       H.J.R. No. 77

      75R5835 CAG-D                           

                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish the office of

 1-2     constable in Shackelford 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 Subsections [Subsection] (e)

 2-2     and (g) of this section, in each such precinct there shall be

 2-3     elected one Justice of the Peace and one Constable, each of whom

 2-4     shall hold his office for four years and until his successor shall

 2-5     be elected and qualified; provided that in a county with a

 2-6     population of less than 150,000, according to the most recent

 2-7     federal census, in any precinct in which there may be a city of

 2-8     18,000 or more inhabitants, there shall be elected two Justices of

 2-9     the Peace, and in a county with a population of 150,000 or more,

2-10     according to the most recent federal census, each precinct may

2-11     contain more than one Justice of the Peace Court.

2-12           (g)  The office of Constable in Shackelford County is

2-13     abolished.  The powers, duties, and records of the office are

2-14     transferred to the County Sheriff.

2-15           SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to the

2-16     Texas Constitution:

2-17           TEMPORARY PROVISION.  The abolition of the office of

2-18     constable in Shackelford County under the constitutional amendment

2-19     proposed by the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, providing

2-20     for the abolition of the office in that county takes effect January

2-21     1, 1998.  This provision expires January 2, 1998.

2-22           SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

2-23     submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 4,

2-24     1997.  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against

2-25     the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment providing for the

2-26     abolition of the office of constable in Shackelford County."