AN ACT

 1-1     relating to certain investigations conducted by the Department of

 1-2     Protective and Regulatory Services.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 48.081, Human Resources Code, is amended

 1-5     by amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsection (h) to read as

 1-6     follows:

 1-7           (g)  The department by rule may assign priorities to an

 1-8     investigation conducted by the department under this section.  The

 1-9     primary criterion used by the department in assigning a priority

1-10     must be the risk that a delay in the investigation will impede the

1-11     collection of evidence.

1-12           (h)  In this section, "community center" has the meaning

1-13     assigned by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code.

1-14           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-19     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-20     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 115 passed the Senate on

         March 6, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 115 passed the House on

         May 28, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor