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BILL ANALYSIS |
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By: Jackson, Jim |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law authorizes a local taxing entity to write proposed ballot language for tax increases or
bond issuances that are intended to obscure what the additional requested funding is to be used
for.
C.S.H.B. 3184 requires a ballot election that requests a bond issuance or a tax increase to specifically state the amount of bonds to be issued or the proposed tax rate increase and, in plain language, the purpose that the bond issuance is intended to support.
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
C.S.H.B. 3184 amends the Election Code to require a proposition allowing the voters to approve the imposition or increase of a tax or the issuance of bonds to state, as applicable, the total dollar
amount of bonds that will be issued or the amount of the tax or tax rate increase, and in plain
language, any project to be supported by bonds, in addition to any other requirement
imposed by law for a proposition.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2009.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute removes the word "tax" when it describes requiring the in plain language, any projects to be supported by the tax or bonds.