SRC-JJJ S.B. 111 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 111 76R2692 KKA-DBy: Carona Education 2/22/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law does not authorize the board of trustees in certain independent school districts to require candidates to receive a majority of votes to be elected. Trustees are allowed to be elected through a simple plurality vote, which may result in a candidate winning without a majority of the votes. This bill would provide the majority vote option for the board of trustees of an independant school district in which the positions of trustees are designated by number or in which the trustees are elected from single-member districts. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 111 authorizes an optional majority vote requirement for election of trustees in certain independent school districts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.057, Education Code, as follows: Sec. 11.057. New heading: DETERMINATION OF RESULTS; OPTIONAL MAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENT. Establishes that an independent school district in which the positions of trustees are designated by number or in which the trustees are elected from single-member trustee districts, the candidate with the highest number of votes for each position is elected. Establishes that in a district in which trustees are not elected from singlemember trustee districts, the candidate with the highest number of votes shall fill the position. Authorizes the board of trustees of an independent school district, in which trustees are designated by number of elected from single-member districts, to provide by resolution by a certain date, that a candidate must receive a majority of the votes to be elected. Provides that a resolution adopted is effective until rescinded by a subsequent resolution adopted no later than the 180th day before the date of the first election to which the recission applies. SECTION 2. Provides that Section 11.057, Education Code, does not require a school district to elect trustees in a manner other than the manner used to elect trustees on June 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.