AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the period for early voting by personal appearance.

 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-3           SECTION 1.  Subsections (a) and (c), Section 85.001, Election

 1-4     Code, are amended to read as follows:

 1-5           (a)  The period for early voting by personal appearance

 1-6     begins on the 17th [20th] day before election day and continues

 1-7     through the fourth day before election day, except as otherwise

 1-8     provided by this section.

 1-9           (c)  If the date prescribed by Subsection (a) or (b) for

1-10     beginning the period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday,

1-11     the period begins:

1-12                 (1)  on the next regular business day; or

1-13                 (2)  on that Saturday or Sunday if early voting is

1-14     ordered to be conducted on that day under Section 85.006.

1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 292 passed the Senate on

         February 25, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 292 passed the House on

         May 2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor