By: Guillen (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2212

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2007; April 17, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on International Relations and Trade; May 9, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 9, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority to consolidate municipalities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 61.001, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.001. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE. The following municipalities [Two or more contiguous municipalities in the same county] may consolidate under one government in the manner provided by this chapter:

(1) two or more contiguous municipalities in the same county; or

(2) two noncontiguous municipalities located in the same county if:

(A) the distance between the municipalities is less than 2.5 miles; and

(B) each municipality is located within one mile of an international boundary.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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