85R4424 GRM-D     By: Gutierrez H.B. No. 558       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the participation of certain large counties in the   countywide polling place program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 43.007, Election Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (b) and (i) and adding Subsection (d-1) to   read as follows:          (b)  The commissioners court of a county that desires to   participate in the program authorized by this section or a county   with a population of more than 1.5 million in which more than 75   percent of the population lives in a single municipality shall hold   a public hearing on the county's participation in the program.  The   commissioners court shall submit a transcript or electronic   recording of the public comments made at the hearing to the   secretary of state.  A county that has previously participated in a   similar program and held a public hearing on the county's   participation in that program is not required to hold a hearing   under this subsection.          (d-1)  The secretary of state shall select to participate in   the program each county that has a population of more than 1.5   million in which more than 75 percent of the population lives in a   single municipality.          (i)  The secretary of state may only select to participate in   the program six counties with a population of 100,000 or more, not   including a county selected under Subsection (d-1), and four   counties with a population of less than 100,000.          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, 2017.