By Wilson H.B. No. 702 76R3104 MLS-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the qualifications of justices of the peace in certain 1-3 counties. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 27, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 27.0055 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 27.0055. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR JUSTICES OF THE 1-8 PEACE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection 1-9 (b), a justice of the peace in a county with a population of 1-10 250,000 or more must: 1-11 (1) be at least 25 years of age; and 1-12 (2) be a licensed attorney in this state. 1-13 (b) A person is exempt from the requirements of Subsection 1-14 (a) if: 1-15 (1) the person successfully completes the 40-hour 1-16 course described by Section 27.005; and 1-17 (2) no licensed attorney: 1-18 (A) files an application to be placed on the 1-19 ballot for the office of justice of the peace 15 days before the 1-20 filing deadline for the primary election for the election in which 1-21 the office is filled; or 1-22 (B) expresses an interest in being appointed to 1-23 a vacancy in the office of justice of the peace to the 1-24 commissioners court before the 30th day after the vacancy becomes 2-1 effective. 2-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and 2-3 applies only to a justice of the peace elected or appointed on or 2-4 after the effective date of this Act. A justice of the peace 2-5 elected or appointed before the effective date of this Act is 2-6 governed by the law in effect at the time the justice of the peace 2-7 was elected or appointed, and that law is continued in effect for 2-8 that purpose. 2-9 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.