BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1648
80R11350 DRH-D By: Leibowitz (Wentworth)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Larger counties are not allowed to hold a nonbinding referendum on the expenditure of public funds. Home rule municipalities in Texas have this authority. Additionally, current statute authorizes counties with populations of less than 40,000 to call a nonbinding referendum on any issue relating to building on county property. Allowing larger counties to hold a nonbinding referendum would allow a commissioners court to determine the will of their constituents before enacting local policy affecting the expenditure of public funds.
As proposed, H.B. 1648 authorizes the commissioners court of a county to hold a nonbinding referendum on any question affecting a county fiscal matter except for labor agreements or for any county employee compensation. This bill requires the election to be held on a uniform election date.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government Code, by adding Section 130.910, as follows:
Sec. 130.910. NONBINDING REFERENDUM ON COUNTY FISCAL MATTER. (a) Authorizes the commissioners court of a county to hold a nonbinding referendum in the county on any question affecting a county fiscal matter other than a matter involving a labor agreement, or compensation of any county employee.
(b) Requires the referendum to be held in the same manner as an election on a county measure and to take place on an election date authorized by Section 41.001 (Uniform Election Dates), Election Code.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.