By Oliveira H.B. No. 1525 75R2031 BEM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to voter authorization for additional projects by certain 1-3 economic development corporations. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 4A, Development Corporation Act of 1979 1-6 (Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by 1-7 adding Subsection (s) to read as follows: 1-8 (s)(1) A city that creates or has created a corporation 1-9 governed by this section may submit to the voters of the city, at a 1-10 separate election to be held on a uniform election date or at an 1-11 election held under another provision of this Act, including the 1-12 election at which the proposition to initially authorize the 1-13 collection of a sales and use tax for the benefit of the 1-14 corporation is submitted, a ballot proposition that authorizes the 1-15 corporation to use the sales and use tax, including any amount 1-16 previously authorized and collected, for a specific project or for 1-17 a specific category of projects that does not qualify under this 1-18 section but qualifies under Section 4B of this Act. Prior approval 1-19 of a specific project at an election or completion of a specific 1-20 project approved at an election does not prohibit a city from 1-21 seeking voter approval of an additional project or category of 1-22 projects under this subsection to be funded from the same sales and 1-23 use tax. 1-24 (2) In the election to authorize the use of the sales 2-1 or use tax for a specific project or for a specific category of 2-2 projects not authorized under this section, the project or category 2-3 of projects must be clearly described on the ballot so that a voter 2-4 will be able to discern the limits of the specific project or 2-5 category of projects authorized by the proposition. If maintenance 2-6 and operating costs of an otherwise authorized facility are to be 2-7 paid from the sales or use tax, the ballot language must clearly 2-8 state that fact. 2-9 (3) Before an election may be held under this 2-10 subsection, a public hearing shall be held in the city to inform 2-11 the residents of the city of the cost and impact of the project or 2-12 category of projects. 2-13 (4) If a majority of the voters voting on the issue do 2-14 not approve a specific project or a specific category of projects 2-15 at an election under this subsection, another election may not be 2-16 held on the same project or category of projects before the first 2-17 anniversary of the date of the most recent election disapproving 2-18 the project or category of projects. 2-19 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-24 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-25 passage, and it is so enacted.