BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 690 81R99 DRH-D By: Wentworth Intergovernmental Relations 3/9/2009 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, Chapter 9 (Home-Rule Municipality), Local Government Code, allows citizen-initiated elections to amend the charter of a home-rule city if the amendment is supported by a petition of five percent of qualified voters or 20,000 voters, whichever is less. The threshold for citizen initiated elections to amend the charter of a home-rule city is much lower than any other threshold for petition-initiated elections in Texas and results in costly elections on issues that are questionable and carry little public support. As proposed, S.B. 690 would raise the threshold for a citizen-initiated election to amend the charter of a home rule city to 10 percent of registered voters. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 9.004(a). Local Government Code, as follows: (a) Requires the governing body of a municipality to submit a proposed charter amendment to the voters for their approval at an election if the submission is supported by a petition signed by a number of registered voters, rather than qualified voters, of the municipality equal to at least 10 percent, rather than five percent, of the number of registered voters of the municipality. Provides that the petition requirements of the subsection do not affect a petition submitted under Chapter 143 (Municipal Civil Service for Firefighters and Police Officers) or 174 (Fire and Police Employee Relations). Deletes existing text providing that the petition may be signed by 20,000 voters if that number is smaller than five percent of the qualified voters of the municipality. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 690
81R99 DRH-D By: Wentworth
Intergovernmental Relations
3/9/2009
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Chapter 9 (Home-Rule Municipality), Local Government Code, allows citizen-initiated elections to amend the charter of a home-rule city if the amendment is supported by a petition of five percent of qualified voters or 20,000 voters, whichever is less. The threshold for citizen initiated elections to amend the charter of a home-rule city is much lower than any other threshold for petition-initiated elections in Texas and results in costly elections on issues that are questionable and carry little public support.
As proposed, S.B. 690 would raise the threshold for a citizen-initiated election to amend the charter of a home rule city to 10 percent of registered voters.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 9.004(a). Local Government Code, as follows:
(a) Requires the governing body of a municipality to submit a proposed charter amendment to the voters for their approval at an election if the submission is supported by a petition signed by a number of registered voters, rather than qualified voters, of the municipality equal to at least 10 percent, rather than five percent, of the number of registered voters of the municipality. Provides that the petition requirements of the subsection do not affect a petition submitted under Chapter 143 (Municipal Civil Service for Firefighters and Police Officers) or 174 (Fire and Police Employee Relations). Deletes existing text providing that the petition may be signed by 20,000 voters if that number is smaller than five percent of the qualified voters of the municipality.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.