By Wilson                                              H.B. No. 672
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 672:
         By Hodge                                           C.S.H.B. No. 672
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring a nonbinding referendum on the question of
 1-3     whether the minimum voting age in this state should be lowered to
 1-4     16.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. (a)  At the general election to be held November
 1-7     6, 2001, the voters shall be permitted to vote in a nonbinding
 1-8     referendum on the question of whether the minimum voting age in
 1-9     this state should be lowered to 16.
1-10           (b)  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or
1-11     against the proposition:  "Lowering the minimum voting age in this
1-12     state to 16."
1-13           (c)  The proposition shall be printed on the ballot beneath
1-14     the proposed constitutional amendments under the heading:
1-15     "Referendum Proposition."
1-16           (d)  Notice of the election shall be given by inclusion of
1-17     the proposition in the proclamation by the governor ordering the
1-18     election on the proposed constitutional amendments to the state
1-19     constitution and in the notice of that election given by each
1-20     county judge.
1-21           (e)  Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be
1-22     prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on the
1-23     proposed constitutional amendments.
1-24           (f)  Immediately after the results of the election are
 2-1     certified by the governor, the secretary of state shall transmit a
 2-2     copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and the
 2-3     speaker of the house of representatives.
 2-4           (g)  It is the legislature's strong intention that, though
 2-5     the legislature has rarely conducted a referendum on matters of
 2-6     statewide importance, the will of the people should be considered
 2-7     given the importance of this particular issue in our state.
 2-8           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.