AN ACT

 1-1     relating to testimony given before a county commissioners court;

 1-2     providing a penalty.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Local Government Code,

 1-5     is amended by adding Section 81.031 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 81.031.  TESTIMONY BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT.  The

 1-7     commissioners court may require that testimony before the court be

 1-8     given under oath.  A person who makes a false statement under oath

 1-9     is subject to prosecution under Section 37.02, Penal Code.

1-10           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-15     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-16     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1179 passed the Senate on

         April 15, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1179 passed the House on

         May 13, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, two present

         not voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor