By Madden H.B. No. 311 76R2314 DRH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the elimination of unnecessary county election 1-3 precincts. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 42, Election Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 42.010 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 42.010. RECOMMENDATION ON ELIMINATION OF LESS POPULOUS 1-8 PRECINCTS. (a) After each redistricting of a territorial unit 1-9 described by Section 42.005(a)(3), (4), (5), or (7), the 1-10 commissioners court may submit recommendations to the secretary of 1-11 state on the changes to the territorial units required to allow the 1-12 county to eliminate county election precincts with no population or 1-13 a substantially small population. 1-14 (b) To be considered by the secretary of state, the 1-15 recommendations must be submitted in the manner prescribed by the 1-16 secretary. 1-17 (c) The secretary of state shall evaluate all timely 1-18 recommendations submitted in accordance with Subsection (b). The 1-19 secretary shall compile all recommendations that the secretary 1-20 determines will allow for the elimination of the county election 1-21 precincts in a manner consistent with state and federal law. 1-22 (d) The secretary of state shall file a report containing 1-23 the information described by Subsection (c) with the governor, the 1-24 lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of 2-1 representatives not later than the date of convening the first 2-2 regular legislative session that occurs after a redistricting of a 2-3 territorial unit described by Subsection (a). If the information 2-4 submitted is insufficient for the compilation required by 2-5 Subsection (c), the secretary shall include a statement to that 2-6 effect in the report. 2-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-8 SECTION 3. 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.