BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 2227

                                                                                                                                           By: Heflin

                                                                                                                                    Appropriations

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Senate Joint Resolution 13 (80th Legislature, Regular Session) allows voters to decide whether or not to authorize the Legislature to reduce the school property tax limitation on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled.  Counties must hold a special election on May 12, 2007, to conduct the vote on this constitutional amendment, and the cost to conduct this special election is not in the counties’ currently adopted budgets.

 

Committee Substitute House Bill 2227 allows the counties, if federal or state funds are available, to be reimbursed by the secretary of state for the expenses of holding a special election for Senate Joint Resolution 13 on May 12, 2007.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading for Section 31.009, Election Code, to refer to “certain,” rather than “federal,” funds.

 

SECTION 2.   Amends Section 31.009(a), Election Code, to require the secretary of state to administer and distribute state funds made available to reimburse political subdivisions for expenses incurred in conducting a special election that is held statewide as appropriate to most effectively facilitate the purposes for which the funds are made available.

 

SECTION 3.  States the effective date for this Act.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect on the 91st day after adjournment.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The substitute amends the heading to Section 31.009, Election Code.

 

The substitute does not include, in addition to amounts previously appropriated for the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2007, an appropriation of $15 million from the general revenue fund to the secretary of state for the purpose of reimbursing each county in this state for expenses incurred in conducting a special state-mandated election to be held on May 12, 2007.  The substitute also does not include language requiring the secretary of state to request that the Legislative Budget Board and the Governor fulfill the state’s financial obligation to the counties through budget execution authority under Chapter 317, Government Code, in the event that the actual costs exceed $15 million.