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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to |
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indicate a preference for observing standard time year-round or |
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observing daylight saving time year-round. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The state, acting under the exemption provisions of |
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Section 3(a), Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. Section 260a(a)), |
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is exempt from the provisions of that law that establish daylight |
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saving time. The exemption provided by this subsection applies to |
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both the portion of the state using central standard time as the |
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official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain |
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standard time as the official standard time. |
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SECTION 2. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The state, acting as authorized under federal law, shall |
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observe daylight saving time year-round. This subsection applies |
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to both the portion of the state using central standard time as the |
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official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain |
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standard time as the official standard time. |
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SECTION 3. (a) At the general election to be held on |
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November 7, 2023, a statewide referendum shall be conducted to |
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allow the voters of this state to indicate a preference for either: |
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(1) observing standard time year-round; or |
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(2) observing daylight saving time year-round. |
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(b) The ballot for the referendum shall be printed to state |
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as follows: "Which of the following do you prefer? |
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"Observing standard time year-round." |
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"Observing daylight saving time year-round." |
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(c) The secretary of state shall design the ballot for the |
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referendum to enable a voter to select either of the statements set |
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out in Subsection (b) of this section as the voter's preference. |
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(d) The proposition for the referendum shall be printed on |
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the ballot under the heading: "Referendum Proposition" immediately |
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following the proposed constitutional amendment authorizing a |
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statewide referendum to allow the voters to choose between |
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observing standard time year-round and observing daylight saving |
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time year-round. |
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(e) Notice of the election shall be given in the same manner |
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that notice of proposed constitutional amendments is given. |
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(f) Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be |
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prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on the |
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proposed constitutional amendments. Immediately after the results |
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of the election are certified, the secretary of state shall |
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transmit a copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and |
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the speaker of the house of representatives. |
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SECTION 4. (a) If the constitutional amendment proposed by |
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the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, authorizing the |
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statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the |
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voters and if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide |
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referendum are in favor of "Observing standard time year-round," |
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Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2024, and Section 2 of |
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this Act does not take effect. |
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(b) If the constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, authorizing the statewide |
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referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the voters and |
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if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum are in |
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favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round," Section 1 of |
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this Act does not take effect and Section 2 of this Act takes effect |
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only if the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes |
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law that authorizes the State of Texas to observe daylight saving |
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time year-round. If the United States Congress does not enact |
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legislation that becomes law described by this subsection, Section |
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2 of this Act has no effect. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, |
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this Act takes effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of |
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two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by |
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Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not |
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receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes |
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effect September 1, 2023. |
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(b) This Act takes effect only if the 88th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2023, proposes a constitutional amendment |
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authorizing a referendum election on the issue of daylight saving |
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time. If the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, does not |
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propose such a constitutional amendment, this Act has no effect. |
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(c) Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act take effect only if the |
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constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2023, authorizing a referendum election on the issue of |
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daylight saving time is approved by the voters. If that amendment |
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is not approved by the voters, Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act have |
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no effect. |