Bill Text: TX HB739 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to ballot propositions authorizing certain political subdivisions to issue bonds.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-20 - Referred to Elections [HB739 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB739-Introduced.html
85R266 TJB-D | ||
By: Shaheen | H.B. No. 739 |
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relating to ballot propositions authorizing certain political | ||
subdivisions to issue bonds. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by | ||
designating Sections 1251.001, 1251.002, 1251.003, 1251.004, | ||
1251.005, and 1251.006 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter | ||
heading to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER A. BOND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTIES AND | ||
MUNICIPALITIES | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter B to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER B. BOND ELECTION BALLOTS FOR CERTAIN POLITICAL | ||
SUBDIVISIONS | ||
Sec. 1251.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Debt obligation" means an issued public security, | ||
as defined by Section 1201.002. | ||
(2) "Political subdivision" means a county, | ||
municipality, or school district. | ||
Sec. 1251.052. CONTENTS OF BALLOT PROPOSITION. (a) The | ||
proposition submitted for an election to authorize a political | ||
subdivision to issue bonds must distinctly state: | ||
(1) as a total amount and as a per capita amount: | ||
(A) the then-current combined principal and | ||
interest required to pay all outstanding debt obligations of the | ||
political subdivision on time and in full; and | ||
(B) the estimated combined principal and | ||
interest required to pay the bonds to be authorized on time and in | ||
full; and | ||
(2) if the bonds are supported by property taxes, the | ||
annual increase in property taxes attributable to the bonds to be | ||
issued that each homeowner of an average-priced home within the | ||
political subdivision may be required to pay. | ||
(b) The requirements for a proposition prescribed by this | ||
section are in addition to any other requirements prescribed by | ||
law. To the extent of a conflict between this section and Section | ||
52.072, Election Code, this section controls. | ||
Sec. 1251.053. ONLINE SAMPLE BALLOT. A sample of the ballot | ||
printed for an election to authorize a political subdivision to | ||
issue bonds must be posted on the political subdivision's Internet | ||
website, if the political subdivision maintains a website, as soon | ||
as practicable after the official ballots have been prepared and | ||
must remain posted until the day following the election. | ||
Sec. 1251.054. FORM OF BALLOT. The secretary of state shall | ||
develop a form of the ballot for an election described by this | ||
subchapter. A political subdivision is not required to use the | ||
form. | ||
SECTION 3. (a) Sections 1251.052 and 1251.053, Government | ||
Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a ballot proposition for a | ||
bond election ordered on or after January 1, 2018. | ||
(b) Not later than December 1, 2017, the secretary of state | ||
shall make available on the secretary of state's Internet website a | ||
form of the ballot described by Section 1251.054, Government Code, | ||
as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this | ||
section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
(b) Sections 1251.052 and 1251.053, Government Code, as | ||
added by this Act, take effect January 1, 2018. |