By Keel H.B. No. 2230 75R6520 DWS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the sales and use tax in certain metropolitan transit 1-3 authorities. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 451.4051 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 451.4051. TAX RATE IN CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. (a) This 1-8 section applies only to an authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, 1-9 in which the principal municipality has a population of less than 1-10 750,000. 1-11 (b) If on September 1, 1997, an authority to which this 1-12 section applies has in effect a sales and use tax of three-quarters 1-13 of one percent or one percent, the tax rate expires on December 1, 1-14 1997, unless the continuation of the rate is approved by a majority 1-15 of the votes recorded at an election called for that purpose on the 1-16 uniform election date in November 1997. 1-17 (c) If the tax rate is approved at the election held under 1-18 Subsection (b), the tax rate expires on December 1 of each third 1-19 subsequent year unless the continuation of the rate is approved by 1-20 a majority of the votes recorded at an election called for that 1-21 purpose on the uniform election date in November preceding the 1-22 expiration date. 1-23 (d) The ballots at an election held under this section shall 1-24 be printed to provide for voting for or against the following 2-1 proposition: "The continuation of the local sales and use tax rate 2-2 of (percentage)." Sections 451.411-451.413 apply to an election 2-3 under this section as if the election were held to increase or 2-4 decrease the tax rate. 2-5 (e) If a tax rate expires under this section, the board may 2-6 set the tax rate at one-quarter of one percent or one-half of one 2-7 percent. 2-8 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-13 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-14 passage, and it is so enacted.