By Greenberg H.B. No. 2445 75R8455 DRH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the authority of certain metropolitan rapid transit 1-3 authorities to hold a referendum on the operation of a fixed rail 1-4 transit system. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, 1-7 is amended by adding Section 451.071 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 451.071. REFERENDUM FOR RAIL PLAN; CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. 1-9 (a) This section applies only to an authority confirmed before 1-10 July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality has a population 1-11 of less than 750,000. 1-12 (b) The authority may hold a referendum on whether the 1-13 authority may operate a fixed rail transit system. At the election 1-14 the ballots shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 1-15 following proposition: "The operation of a fixed rail system by 1-16 (name of authority)." 1-17 (c) The notice of an election called under this section must 1-18 include a general description of the form of the fixed rail transit 1-19 system, including the general location of any proposed routes. 1-20 (d) If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of the 1-21 proposition, the authority may build and operate the system as 1-22 provided in the notice for the election. If less than a majority 1-23 of the votes cast are in favor of the proposition, the authority 1-24 may not expend funds of the authority to purchase, acquire, 2-1 construct, operate, or maintain any form of a fixed rail transit 2-2 system unless the system is approved by a majority of the votes 2-3 cast at a referendum held by the authority for that purpose. 2-4 (e) A subsequent referendum under Subsection (d): 2-5 (1) may be held more than once; 2-6 (2) is held in the same manner as the initial 2-7 referendum; and 2-8 (3) may not be held before the first anniversary of an 2-9 election previously held under this section. 2-10 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-15 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-16 passage, and it is so enacted.