Bill Text: TX HB1594 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Relating to the territory that may be included in a single county election precinct.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-10 - Placed on General State Calendar [HB1594 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1594-Comm_Sub.html
  85R25054 ADM-F
 
  By: Bohac H.B. No. 1594
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1594:
 
  By:  Laubenberg C.S.H.B. No. 1594
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the territory that may be included in a single county
  election precinct.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 42.0051(a) and (d), Election Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A [If changes in county election precinct boundaries to
  give effect to a redistricting plan result in county election
  precincts with a number of registered voters less than 500, a]
  commissioners court for a general or special election[,] or, for a
  primary election, the county executive committee of a political
  party conducting a primary election, may combine county election
  precincts notwithstanding Section 42.005 to avoid unreasonable
  expenditures for election equipment, supplies, and personnel in:
               (1)  a county with a population of less than 250,000 if
  the precinct has less than 500 registered voters; or
               (2)  a county with a population of 250,000 or more
  regardless of the number of registered voters in the precinct.
         (d)  A combined precinct may not be established if it:
               (1)  results in a dilution of voting strength of a group
  covered by the federal Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1973c et
  seq.);
               (2)  results in a dilution of representation of a group
  covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral
  process or procedure; [or]
               (3)  results in discouraging participation by a group
  covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral
  process or procedure because of the location of a polling place or
  other factors; or
               (4)  contains a county election precinct with at least
  500 registered voters but less than 750 registered voters and:
                     (A)  the location of the polling place for the
  combined precinct is different from the location used for the
  county election precinct in the preceding election ordered by the
  same authority; and
                     (B)  the polling place used for the county
  election precinct in the preceding election ordered by the same
  authority:
                           (i)  is available to be used as a polling
  place; and
                           (ii)  complies with the accessibility
  requirements established by Sections 43.034 and 61.012.
         SECTION 2.  Section 42.0051(b), Election Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2017.
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