By Corte                                        H.B. No. 3408

      75R3612 PAM-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to authorizing certain counties to order a referendum in

 1-3     certain circumstances.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 111, Local Government Code,

 1-6     is amended by adding Section 111.0386 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 111.0386.  REFERENDUM.  (a)  Before adopting a proposed

 1-8     budget that includes an expenditure for the construction of public

 1-9     works, the commissioners court may order a referendum in the county

1-10     on the question of whether county funds should be spent for the

1-11     construction of the public works.

1-12           (b)  If the commissioners court orders a referendum under

1-13     this section, the commissioners court may approve the expenditure

1-14     of county funds for the construction of the public works only if a

1-15     majority of the qualified voters voting in the referendum approve

1-16     the expenditure.

1-17           (c)  In this section, "public works" means buildings, other

1-18     structures, facilities, or other improvements designed for public

1-19     use, protection, or enjoyment.

1-20           SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 111, Local Government Code,

1-21     is amended by adding Section 111.0676 to read as follows:

1-22           Sec. 111.0676.  REFERENDUM.  (a)  Before adopting a proposed

1-23     budget that includes an expenditure for the construction of public

1-24     works, the  commissioners court may order a referendum in the

 2-1     county on the question of whether county funds should be spent for

 2-2     the construction of the public works.

 2-3           (b)  If the commissioners court orders a referendum under

 2-4     this section, the commissioners court may approve the expenditure

 2-5     of county funds for the construction of the public works only if a

 2-6     majority of the qualified voters voting in the referendum approve

 2-7     the expenditure.

 2-8           (c)  In this section, "public works" means buildings, other

 2-9     structures, facilities, or other improvements designed for public

2-10     use, protection, or enjoyment.

2-11           SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 271, Local Government Code,

2-12     is amended by adding Section 271.0445 to read as follows:

2-13           Sec. 271.0445.  REFERENDUM.  (a)  Before authorizing

2-14     certificates to pay a contractual obligation to be incurred for the

2-15     construction of public works, the commissioners court may order a

2-16     referendum in the county on the question of whether county funds

2-17     should be spent for the construction of the public works.

2-18           (b)  If the commissioners court orders a referendum under

2-19     this section, the commissioners court may authorize certificates to

2-20     pay a contractual obligation to be incurred for the construction of

2-21     the public works only if a majority of the qualified voters voting

2-22     in the referendum approve the authorization.

2-23           (c)  In this section, "public works" means buildings, other

2-24     structures, facilities, or other improvements designed for public

2-25     use, protection, or enjoyment.

2-26           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-27     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 3-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 3-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 3-4     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 3-5     passage, and it is so enacted.