By Hunter, Van de Putte, Turner of Coleman,            H.B. No. 558
         76R10854 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the requirement that state employees present proof of
 1-3     selective service registration or exemption.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 651, Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Section 651.005 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 651.005.  REQUIREMENT OF SELECTIVE SERVICE REGISTRATION
 1-8     OR EXEMPTION.  (a)  An agency in any branch of state government may
 1-9     not hire a person as an employee if the person is of the age and
1-10     gender that would require a  person residing in the United States
1-11     to register with the selective service system under federal law,
1-12     unless the person presents proof of the person's:
1-13                 (1)  registration with the selective service system as
1-14     required by federal law; or
1-15                 (2)  exemption from registration with the selective
1-16     service system.
1-17           (b)  This section does not apply to a person employed by a
1-18     state agency before September 1, 1999, as long as the person's
1-19     employment by the agency is continuous.
1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-21           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-22     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-25     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.