By Maxey                                              H.B. No. 1711
         76R5801 DRH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the designation of polling places for certain
 1-3     elections.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 43.002, Election Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
 1-7           (c)  A polling place location may not be changed for two
 1-8     years following its designation under this section unless:
 1-9                 (1)  the location is unavailable for use in the
1-10     election; or
1-11                 (2)  the precinct the polling place serves is divided
1-12     or eliminated.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 43.003, Election Code, is amended to read
1-14     as follows:
1-15           Sec. 43.003.  DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: PRIMARY ELECTION.  (a)
1-16     The county chair of a political party holding a primary election
1-17     shall use the polling places designated under Section 43.002
1-18     [designate the location of the polling place] for each election
1-19     precinct in the primary unless:
1-20                 (1)  the location is unavailable for use in the
1-21     election; or
1-22                 (2)  the precinct the polling place serves is divided
1-23     or eliminated [the precinct is one that is consolidated].
1-24           (b)  If a polling place designated under Section 43.002
 2-1     cannot be used [In that case], the county chair [executive
 2-2     committee] shall designate the location of the polling place.
 2-3           SECTION 3.  Section 43.004, Election Code, is amended to read
 2-4     as follows:
 2-5           Sec. 43.004.  DESIGNATION OF LOCATION:  ELECTIONS OF OTHER
 2-6     POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.  (a) The governing body of each political
 2-7     subdivision authorized to hold elections, other than a county,
 2-8     shall use the polling places designated under Section 43.002
 2-9     [designate the location of the polling place] for each of its
2-10     election precincts unless:
2-11                 (1)  the location is unavailable for use in the
2-12     election; or
2-13                 (2)  the precinct the polling place serves is divided,
2-14     eliminated, or does not correspond to the county election precinct.
2-15           (b)  If a polling place designated under Section 43.002
2-16     cannot be used, the governing body shall designate the location of
2-17     the polling place.
2-18           SECTION 4.  Section 43.005, Election Code, is amended to read
2-19     as follows:
2-20           Sec. 43.005.  DESIGNATION OF LOCATION: CERTAIN SPECIAL
2-21     ELECTIONS.  (a)  The authority establishing election precincts
2-22     under Section 42.062 shall use the polling places designated under
2-23     Section 43.002 [designate the location of the polling place] for
2-24     each precinct unless:
2-25                 (1)  the location is unavailable for use in the
2-26     election; or
2-27                 (2)  the precinct the polling place serves is divided,
 3-1     eliminated, or does not correspond to the county election precinct.
 3-2           (b)  If a polling place designated under Section 43.002
 3-3     cannot be used, the authority shall designate the location of the
 3-4     polling place.
 3-5           SECTION 5.  Section 43.006, Election Code, is amended to read
 3-6     as follows:
 3-7           Sec. 43.006. CONFLICTS WITH OTHER LAW.  This subchapter
 3-8     supersedes a [A] law outside this subchapter [supersedes this
 3-9     subchapter] to the extent of any conflict.
3-10           SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-11           SECTION 7.  The importance of this legislation and the
3-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.