76R13852 DRH-D By Madden H.B. No. 306 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 306: By Madden C.S.H.B. No. 306 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to certain practices and procedures involving polling 1-3 places used for an election; providing a criminal penalty. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Election Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subchapter C to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER C. INFORMATION REGARDING LOCATION OF POLLING PLACE 1-8 Sec. 43.061. NOTICE AT PREVIOUS POLLING PLACE. If the 1-9 location of the polling place for an election precinct is different 1-10 from the location used for the precinct in the preceding election 1-11 ordered by the same authority, the authority responsible for giving 1-12 notice of the election shall, if possible, post notice at the 1-13 entrance to the previous polling place stating that the location 1-14 has changed and providing the location of the new polling place. 1-15 Sec. 43.062. USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION. In an 1-16 election in which detailed poll location information is available 1-17 at a polling place through a computer, an election officer shall 1-18 provide that information to assist voters in determining the 1-19 correct polling place location for the voter's election precinct. 1-20 SECTION 2. Section 62.001, Election Code, is amended to read 1-21 as follows: 1-22 Sec. 62.001. OFFICERS TO ASSEMBLE. (a) On election day, 1-23 the presiding judge and the election clerks the judge assigns to 1-24 assist with preparing the polling place shall meet at the polling 2-1 place in time to prepare it to receive the voters. 2-2 (b) If the polling place is left unattended at any time 2-3 after the preparations for voting begin, the presiding judge shall 2-4 take appropriate steps to provide for the security of the polling 2-5 place. This subsection does not affect the security requirements 2-6 for a polling place after the polls open. 2-7 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-8 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.