78R5514 JRJ-D

By:  Madden                                                       H.B. No. 1173



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of a building on a federal military base or 
facility as a polling place in an election.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 43.031(d), Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	(d)  If a suitable public building is unavailable, the 
polling place may be located in some other building, including a 
building on a federal military base or facility with the permission 
of the post or base commander, and any charge for its use is an 
election expense.  A polling place may not be located in a building 
under this subsection unless electioneering is permitted on the 
building's premises outside the prescribed limits within which 
electioneering is prohibited, except that a polling place may be 
located in a building at which electioneering is not permitted if it 
is the only building available for use as a polling place in the 
election precinct.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.