S.B. No. 1402 AN ACT relating to requiring certain political subdivisions to enter a contract with the county elections administrator to perform election services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 31, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 31.0925 to read as follows: Sec. 31.0925. REQUEST FOR SERVICES REQUIRED. (a) This section applies only to a political subdivision: (1) that is located entirely in a county: (A) with a population of more than 500,000 that is served by a county elections administrator; and (B) that does not contain a municipality with a population of more than 150,000; and (2) that is not an irrigation district created under the authority of Section 52(b)(1) or (2), Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. (b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall request an election services contract with the county elections administrator to perform all duties and functions of the political subdivision in relation to an election that may be transferred under this subchapter if the political subdivision receives a petition requesting the contract signed by a number of registered voters residing in the political subdivision that is equal to or exceeds one percent of all votes cast in the most recent general election held by the political subdivision. (c) A petition under this section must be submitted to the clerk of the political subdivision before January 1 of the year in which the election to be administered under the requested election services contract will be held. 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, 2009. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1402 passed the Senate on April 22, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1402 passed the House, with amendment, on May 26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 1, one present not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor