BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1283

By: Simmons

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that Texas has the second lowest state debt per capita among the 10 most populous states in the nation but that the state's growing local debt has become a major concern. The parties point out that over the past decade, local government and public school district debt outstanding in Texas increased by more than 70 percent. The parties attribute Texas' growing local debt partly to bond and debt elections taking place in May elections, when voter turnout is considerably lower than elections held in November, and contend that elections for the issuance of bonds and other debt should be held in November when larger voter turnout is expected.
H.B. 1283 seeks to address these concerns.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 1283 amends the Election Code to require a proposition for approval of the issuance of bonds or other debt to be submitted to the voters in an election held on the November uniform election date and to prohibit the proposition from being submitted to the voters in an emergency early election. The bill establishes that if a law outside of the Election Code requires such a proposition to be submitted to the voters in an election held on a date other than the November uniform election date, the authority administering the election must set the election date to comply with the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.