85R26192 SRS-D By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1152 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1152: By: Koop C.S.H.B. No. 1152 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a referendum requirement before the name of a school district or district campus located in certain counties may be changed by the district board of trustees. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 11.160, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 11.160. AUTHORITY TO CHANGE NAME OF SCHOOL DISTRICT GENERALLY [NAME]. SECTION 2. Section 11.160(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The board of trustees of an independent school district, other than a school district subject to Section 11.1601, by resolution may change the name of the school district. SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 11.1601 to read as follows: Sec. 11.1601. AUTHORITY TO CHANGE NAME OF SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DISTRICT CAMPUS LOCATED IN CERTAIN POPULOUS COUNTIES. (a) The board of trustees of an independent school district in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more and with a student enrollment of more than 200,000 may not change the name of a school district or a district campus before the district conducts a referendum election on the issue of whether the name of the district should be changed or on the issue of whether the name of a district campus should be changed and: (1) if the referendum is on the issue of changing the district's name, a majority of the voters voting in the election approve the change in name of the district; or (2) if the referendum is on the issue of changing the name of a district campus, a majority of the voters voting in the election approve the change in name of the district campus. (b) A referendum described by Subsection (a) may be placed on the ballot at any type of district election, including an election of district trustees, a bond election, or a special election. (c) If a majority of the voters approve the change in name of the district, the board by resolution may change the name of the district. (d) If a majority of the voters approve the change in name of a district campus, the board by resolution may change the name of the district campus. (e) The board shall give notice of the change in name of the district or a district campus by sending to the commissioner a copy of the resolution under Subsection (c) or (d), as applicable, attested by the president and secretary of the board, and a copy of the election results. (f) The district or the district campus, under the changed name, is considered a continuation of the district or district campus, as the district or district campus was formerly named, for all purposes. SECTION 4. 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.