By Noriega                                            H.J.R. No. 24
         77R2433 ATP-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to increase the number of
 1-2     county commissioners in Harris County.
 1-3           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 18(b), Article V, Texas Constitution, is
 1-5     amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (b)  Each county shall, in the manner provided for justice of
 1-7     the peace and constable precincts, be divided into four
 1-8     commissioners precincts, except that Harris County shall be divided
 1-9     into six commissioners precincts.  In [in] each precinct [of which]
1-10     there shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof one County
1-11     Commissioner, who shall hold his office for four years and until
1-12     his successor shall be elected and qualified. The County
1-13     Commissioners so chosen, with the County Judge as presiding
1-14     officer, shall compose the County Commissioners Court, which shall
1-15     exercise such powers and jurisdiction over all county business, as
1-16     is conferred by this Constitution and the laws of the State, or as
1-17     may be hereafter prescribed.
1-18           SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to the
1-19     Texas Constitution:
1-20           TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a)  This temporary provision applies to
1-21     the constitutional amendment proposed by the 77th Legislature,
1-22     Regular Session, 2001, to increase the number of county
1-23     commissioners in Harris County from four to six.
1-24           (b)  Under that constitutional amendment, the Commissioners
 2-1     Court of Harris County shall divide the county into six
 2-2     commissioners precincts so that:
 2-3                 (1)  the boundaries of the initial six precincts can
 2-4     take effect on January 1, 2003; and
 2-5                 (2)  the two additional offices of county commissioner
 2-6     that initially result from the division of the county into six
 2-7     commissioners precincts can be filled at the general election for
 2-8     state and county officers held in November 2002.
 2-9           (c)  Of the persons elected to the two additional  offices at
2-10     the election in November 2002, one serves an initial term expiring
2-11     January 1, 2005, and one serves an initial term expiring January 1,
2-12     2007.
2-13           SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-14     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.
2-15     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-16     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to increase the number
2-17     of county commissioners in Harris County from four to six."