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.