1-1     By:  Homer, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ratliff)         H.J.R. No. 71
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 1999;
 1-3     May 3, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Intergovernmental Relations; May 14, 1999, reported favorably, as
 1-5     amended, by the following vote:  Yeas 3, Nays 1; May 14, 1999, sent
 1-6     to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1                                By:  Madla
 1-8     Amend H.J.R. 71 as follows:
 1-9           On page 1, line 47, strike "may" and substitute "shall".
1-10                           HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
1-11     proposing a constitutional amendment to provide for the number of
1-12     precincts that certain counties must create for justices of the
1-13     peace and constables.
1-14           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-15           SECTION 1.  Section 18(a), Article V, Texas Constitution, is
1-16     amended to read as follows:
1-17           (a)  Each county in the State with a population of 50,000
1-18     [30,000] or more, according to the most recent federal census, from
1-19     time to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided
1-20     into not less than four and not more than eight precincts.  Each
1-21     county in the State with a population of 18,000 or more but less
1-22     than 50,000 [30,000], according to the most recent federal census,
1-23     from time to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be
1-24     divided into not less than two and not more than eight [five]
1-25     precincts.  Each county in the State with a population of less than
1-26     18,000, according to the most recent federal census, from time to
1-27     time, for the convenience of the people, shall be designated as a
1-28     single precinct or, if the Commissioners Court determines that the
1-29     county needs more than one precinct, shall be divided into not more
1-30     than four precincts.  Notwithstanding the population requirements
1-31     of this subsection, Chambers County and Randall County, from time
1-32     to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided into
1-33     not less than two and not more than six precincts.  A division or
1-34     designation under this subsection shall be made by the
1-35     Commissioners Court provided for by this Constitution.    Except as
1-36     provided by [Subsection (e) of] this section, in each such precinct
1-37     there shall be elected one Justice of the Peace and one Constable,
1-38     each of whom shall hold his office for four years and until his
1-39     successor shall be elected and qualified; provided that in a county
1-40     with a population of less than 150,000, according to the most
1-41     recent federal census, in any precinct in which there may be a city
1-42     of 18,000 or more inhabitants, there shall be elected two Justices
1-43     of the Peace, and in a county with a population of 150,000 or more,
1-44     according to the most recent federal census, each precinct may
1-45     contain more than one Justice of the Peace Court.  Notwithstanding
1-46     the population requirements of this subsection, any county that is
1-47     divided into four or more precincts on November 2, 1999, may
1-48     continue to be divided into not less than four precincts.
1-49           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
1-50     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
1-51     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
1-52     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to provide that certain
1-53     counties shall be divided into a specific number of precincts."
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