85R582 ATP-F     By: Schofield H.B. No. 1242       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to petition requirements for an application for a place on   the general primary election ballot for certain judicial offices.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 172.021, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (e) and (g) to read as follows:          (e)  A candidate for an office specified by Section   172.024(a)(8), (10), or (12), or for justice of the peace in a   county with a population of more than 1.5 million, who chooses to   pay the filing fee must also accompany the application with a   petition for a place on the primary ballot as a candidate for   judicial office that complies with the requirements prescribed for   the petition authorized by Subsection (b), except that the minimum   number of signatures that must appear on the petition required by   this subsection is 250. If the candidate chooses to file the   petition authorized by Subsection (b) in lieu of the filing fee, the   minimum number of signatures required for that petition is   increased by 250. Signatures on a petition filed under this   subsection or Subsection (b) by a candidate covered by this   subsection may not be obtained on the grounds of a county courthouse   or courthouse annex.          (g)  A candidate for the office of chief justice or justice,   supreme court, or presiding judge or judge, court of criminal   appeals, who chooses to pay the filing fee must also accompany the   application with a petition that complies with the requirements   prescribed for a petition authorized by Subsection (b), except that   the minimum number of signatures that must appear on the petition   required by this subsection is 50 from each court of appeals   district.          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.