By Madla                                         S.B. No. 508

      75R3493 DRH-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the costs for early voting in a primary election.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 173.003, Election Code, is amended to

 1-5     read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 173.003.  EXPENSES INCURRED BY COUNTY.  (a)  Except as

 1-7     otherwise provided by law, the county shall pay all the expenses

 1-8     incurred in connection with early voting in a primary election,

 1-9     except expenses relating to the printing of early voting ballots,

1-10     and any other expenses incurred by a county authority in connection

1-11     with a primary election.

1-12           (b)  A county may request state funds for the payment of

1-13     expenses incurred under Subsection (a) in the manner prescribed by

1-14     the secretary of state.  Subject to legislative appropriation, the

1-15     secretary may grant, deny, or limit the amount of state funds

1-16     requested under this subsection.

1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.