By Elkins                                             H.B. No. 2656
         76R6668 SMJ-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the designation of pawnshops as a permitted use in
 1-3     certain zoning classifications.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 211.0035(b), Local Government Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  For the purposes of zoning regulation and determination
 1-8     of zoning district boundaries, the governing body of a municipality
 1-9     shall designate pawnshops that have been licensed to transact
1-10     business by the Consumer Credit Commissioner under Chapter 371,
1-11     Finance Code, [the Texas Pawnshop Act (Article 5069-51.01 et seq.,
1-12     Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)] as a permitted use in one or more
1-13     zoning classifications and as a permitted use in a zoning
1-14     classification that permits the operation of:
1-15                 (1)  a bank, savings and loan association, or credit
1-16     union as defined by Section 341.001, Finance Code; or
1-17                 (2)  an authorized lender licensed under Chapter 342,
1-18     Finance Code.
1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.