BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 2840

80R7882 ATP-F                                                                                          By: King, Susan (Fraser)

                                                                                                               Intergovernmental Relations

                                                                                                                                              5/1/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, a petition to abolish a municipality's corporate existence must be signed by a minimum of 50 qualified voters in municipalities with fewer than 400 qualified voters. If that threshold is met, the mayor is required to order an election to determine the question of abolishment.

 

As of 2007, the City of Impact has a population of 31, down from 39 in the 2000 census, and therefore cannot meet the statutory threshold.  The City of Impact is located in Taylor County and is entirely surrounded by the City of Abilene.

 

H.B. 2840 authorizes an election for the abolition of a municipality's corporate existence to be held if the required petition is signed by one-fourth of the registered voters, but abolition of the municipality's corporate existence would still require a majority vote.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 62.002(a), Local Government Code, as follows:

 

(a) Sets forth procedural guidelines for the abolition of a municipality's corporate existence. Requires the petition for an election to abolish the corporate existence of a municipality of less than 400 qualified voters that has no municipal debt and does not provide services that would be otherwise provided by the county to be signed by at least one-fourth of the qualified voters in the municipality, rather than 50 qualified voters.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.