By Hamric                                        H.B. No. 782

      75R4411 CAG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to voter approval of certain municipal annexations.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 43, Local Government Code,

 1-5     is amended by adding Section 43.0215 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 43.0215.  VOTER APPROVAL OF ANNEXATION REQUIRED IN

 1-7     CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES.  (a)  This section applies only to a

 1-8     municipality with a population of 1.6 million or more.

 1-9           (b)  The municipality may not annex an area for full or

1-10     limited purposes unless:

1-11                 (1)  the municipality holds in the area an election, at

1-12     which the qualified voters of the area may vote, on the question of

1-13     the annexation; and

1-14                 (2)  a majority of the votes received at the election

1-15     approve the annexation.

1-16           (c)  This section does not apply to an annexation of an area

1-17     if:

1-18                 (1)  no qualified voters reside in the area; or

1-19                 (2)  the annexation is authorized by or subject to

1-20     another section of this chapter, other than Section 43.021.

1-21           (d)  The municipality shall pay for the cost of holding the

1-22     election.

1-23           SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by Section 43.0215, Local

1-24     Government Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an annexation

 2-1     proceeding that is in process on, or that begins on or after,

 2-2     September 1, 1997.

 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.