By Homer, Lengefeld, Gallego, Keffer                  H.J.R. No. 71
         76R7777 CAG-D                           
                                 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, from time to time, for the
1-22     convenience of the people, shall be divided into not less than two
1-23     and not more than six precincts.  A division or designation under
1-24     this subsection shall be made by the Commissioners Court provided
 2-1     for by this Constitution.    Except as provided by [Subsection (e)
 2-2     of] this section, in each such precinct there shall be elected one
 2-3     Justice of the Peace and one Constable, each of whom shall hold his
 2-4     office for four years and until his successor shall be elected and
 2-5     qualified; provided that in a county with a population of less than
 2-6     150,000, according to the most recent federal census, in any
 2-7     precinct in which there may be a city of 18,000 or more
 2-8     inhabitants, there shall be elected two Justices of the Peace, and
 2-9     in a county with a population of 150,000 or more, according to the
2-10     most recent federal census, each precinct may contain more than one
2-11     Justice of the Peace Court.
2-12           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-13     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
2-14     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-15     proposition: "The constitutional amendment to provide that a county
2-16     with a population of 18,000 or more but less than 50,000 must be
2-17     divided into two to eight precincts for justices of the peace and
2-18     constables."
2-19                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
2-20           H.J.R. 71 is amended by adding the following language at the
2-21     end of Section 1 of the joint resolution:  Notwithstanding the
2-22     population requirements of this subsection, any county that is
2-23     divided into four or more precincts on November 2, 1999, shall
2-24     continue to be divided into not less than four precincts.
2-25                                                                Swinford