1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring a voting system to be accessible by persons
 1-3     with physical disabilities.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 122, Election Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 122.0011 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 122.0011.  ACCESS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.  A
 1-8     voting system that is acquired on or after September 1, 1999, must:
 1-9                 (1)  comply with Section 504 of the federal
1-10     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.  Section 794) and its
1-11     subsequent amendments and Title II of the federal Americans with
1-12     Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12131 et seq.) and its
1-13     subsequent amendments; and
1-14                 (2)  provide a practical and effective means for voters
1-15     with physical disabilities to cast a secret ballot.
1-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1053 was passed by the House on April
         23, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1053 was passed by the Senate on May
         17, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor