By Homer, Lengefeld, Gallego, Keffer                  H.J.R. No. 71
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to provide for the number of
 1-2     precincts that certain counties must create for justices of the
 1-3     peace and constables.
 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 18(a), Article V, Texas Constitution, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  Each county in the State with a population of 50,000
 1-8     [30,000] or more, according to the most recent federal census, from
 1-9     time to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided
1-10     into not less than four and not more than eight precincts.  Each
1-11     county in the State with a population of 18,000 or more but less
1-12     than 50,000 [30,000], according to the most recent federal census,
1-13     from time to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be
1-14     divided into not less than two and not more than eight [five]
1-15     precincts.  Each county in the State with a population of less than
1-16     18,000, according to the most recent federal census, from time to
1-17     time, for the convenience of the people, shall be designated as a
1-18     single precinct or, if the Commissioners Court determines that the
1-19     county needs more than one precinct, shall be divided into not more
1-20     than four precincts.  Notwithstanding the population requirements
1-21     of this subsection, Chambers County and Randall County, from time
1-22     to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided into
1-23     not less than two and not more than six precincts.  A division or
1-24     designation under this subsection shall be made by the
 2-1     Commissioners Court provided for by this Constitution.    Except as
 2-2     provided by [Subsection (e) of] this section, in each such precinct
 2-3     there shall be elected one Justice of the Peace and one Constable,
 2-4     each of whom shall hold his office for four years and until his
 2-5     successor shall be elected and qualified; provided that in a county
 2-6     with a population of less than 150,000, according to the most
 2-7     recent federal census, in any precinct in which there may be a city
 2-8     of 18,000 or more inhabitants, there shall be elected two Justices
 2-9     of the Peace, and in a county with a population of 150,000 or more,
2-10     according to the most recent federal census, each precinct may
2-11     contain more than one Justice of the Peace Court.  Notwithstanding
2-12     the population requirements of this subsection, any county that is
2-13     divided into four or more precincts on November 2, 1999, may
2-14     continue to be divided into not less than four precincts.
2-15           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-16     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
2-17     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-18     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to provide that certain
2-19     counties shall be divided into a specific number of precincts."