Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB642 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R2033 ADM-F
2	2	By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 642
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to required disclosures in and to the length of ballot
8	8	proposition language authorizing political subdivisions to issue
9	9	bonds or impose or change a tax.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Section 52.072, Election Code, is amended by
12	12	amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
13	13	follows:
14	14	(e) In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for
15	15	a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition
16	16	language, a proposition in an election of a political subdivision,
17	17	including a city, county, school district, or special taxing
18	18	district, submitted to the voters for approval of [the issuance of
19	19	bonds or] the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax shall
20	20	specifically state, as applicable:
21	21	(1) [with respect to a proposition seeking voter
22	22	approval of the issuance of bonds:
23	23	[(A) the total principal amount of the bonds to
24	24	be authorized, if approved; and
25	25	[(B) a general description of the purposes for
26	26	which the bonds are to be authorized, if approved;
27	27	[(2)] with respect to a proposition that only seeks
28	28	voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax:
29	29	(A) [,] the amount of or maximum tax rate of the
30	30	tax or tax increase for which approval is sought;
31	31	(B) the estimated additional tax burden that
32	32	would be imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median
33	33	homestead value in the political subdivision, as computed by the
34	34	appraisal district, after the imposition or increase of the tax, if
35	35	approved; and
36	36	(C) a detailed description of the purposes for
37	37	which the tax is to be imposed or increased, if approved; or
38	38	(2) [(3)] with respect to a proposition that only
39	39	seeks voter approval of the reduction of a tax:
40	40	(A) [,] the amount of tax rate reduction or the
41	41	tax rate for which approval is sought; and
42	42	(B) the estimated tax reduction for a homestead
43	43	with a value equal to the median homestead value in the political
44	44	subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, if the
45	45	reduction of the tax is approved.
46	46	(f) A proposition to which Subsection (e) applies or for
47	47	approval of the issuance of bonds may not exceed:
48	48	(1) 5,000 characters; or
49	49	(2) a different limit prescribed by the secretary of
50	50	state that ensures that the length of the proposition does not
51	51	exceed one page of the ballot or one screen on an electronic voting
52	52	machine.
53	53	SECTION 2. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by
54	54	designating Sections 1251.001, 1251.002, 1251.003, 1251.004,
55	55	1251.005, and 1251.006 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter
56	56	heading to read as follows:
57	57	SUBCHAPTER A. PROVISIONS RELATING GENERALLY TO BOND ELECTIONS
58	58	SECTION 3. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by
59	59	adding Subchapter B to read as follows:
60	60	SUBCHAPTER B. BALLOT PROPOSITION FOR BONDS ISSUED BY POLITICAL
61	61	SUBDIVISION
62	62	Sec. 1251.051. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to
63	63	bonds issued by any political subdivision, including a
64	64	municipality, county, school district, or special taxing district.
65	65	Sec. 1251.052. FORM. A proposition seeking voter approval
66	66	of the issuance of bonds shall specifically state:
67	67	(1) a general description of the purposes for which
68	68	the bonds are to be authorized;
69	69	(2) the total principal amount of the bonds;
70	70	(3) the total amount of the political subdivision's
71	71	debt secured by ad valorem taxes currently outstanding;
72	72	(4) the total amount of the political subdivision's
73	73	current payments on debt secured by ad valorem taxes;
74	74	(5) the amount of taxes required to be imposed on a
75	75	homestead with a value equal to the median homestead value in the
76	76	political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, to
77	77	repay the political subdivision's current debt obligations secured
78	78	by ad valorem taxes; and
79	79	(6) the estimated tax burden that would be imposed on a
80	80	homestead with a value equal to the median homestead value in the
81	81	political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, to
82	82	repay the bonds to be authorized, if approved.
83	83	SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
84	84	a ballot for an election ordered on or after the effective date of
85	85	this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act
86	86	is governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and
87	87	the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
88	88	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.