1-1 By: Madden, Jones of Lubbock H.B. No. 1820 1-2 (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro) 1-3 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2001; 1-4 May 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on State 1-5 Affairs; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-6 Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-8 AN ACT 1-9 relating to the elimination of unnecessary county election 1-10 precincts. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 42, Election Code, is 1-13 amended by adding Section 42.010 to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 42.010. RECOMMENDATION ON ELIMINATION OF LESS POPULOUS 1-15 PRECINCTS. (a) After each redistricting of a ward of a city 1-16 described by Section 42.005(a)(6), the commissioners court may 1-17 submit recommendations to the governing body of the city on changes 1-18 to the wards of the city to allow the county to eliminate county 1-19 election precincts with no population or a substantially small 1-20 population. 1-21 (b) After each redistricting of a territorial unit described 1-22 by Section 42.005(a)(1) or (2), the commissioners court shall 1-23 consider changes to the territorial units to allow the county to 1-24 eliminate county election precincts with no population or a 1-25 substantially small population. 1-26 (c) After each redistricting of a territorial unit described 1-27 by Section 42.005(a)(3), (4), (5), or (7), the commissioners court 1-28 may submit recommendations to the secretary of state on changes to 1-29 the territorial units to allow the county to eliminate county 1-30 election precincts with no population or a substantially small 1-31 population. 1-32 (d) For purposes of this section, a "substantially small 1-33 population" describes a precinct with a population of not more than 1-34 10 persons or not more than 6 registered voters, according to the 1-35 most recent federal census or list of registered voters, as 1-36 applicable, as of the date of the redistricting. 1-37 (e) To be considered by the secretary of state, the 1-38 recommendations must be submitted in the manner prescribed by the 1-39 secretary. 1-40 (f) The secretary of state shall evaluate all timely 1-41 recommendations submitted in accordance with Subsection (e). The 1-42 secretary shall compile all recommendations for the elimination of 1-43 the county election precincts in a manner consistent with state and 1-44 federal law. 1-45 (g) The secretary of state shall file a report containing 1-46 the information described by Subsection (f) with the governor, the 1-47 lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of 1-48 representatives not later than the date of convening the first 1-49 regular legislative session that occurs after a redistricting of a 1-50 territorial unit described by Subsection (c). If the information 1-51 submitted is insufficient for the compilation required by 1-52 Subsection (f), the secretary shall include a statement to that 1-53 effect in the report. 1-54 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-55 * * * * *