84R20111 ATP-F
 
  By: Flynn, Shaheen H.B. No. 1380
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1380:
 
  By:  Fallon C.S.H.B. No. 1380
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to ballot language for certain propositions to approve
  actions by a county, city, school district, or other special
  district.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 52.072, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
  follows:
         (e)  In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for
  a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition
  language, a proposition submitted to the voters for approval of the
  issuance of bonds or the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax
  shall specifically state, as applicable:
               (1)  with respect to a proposition seeking voter
  approval of the issuance of bonds:
                     (A)  the total principal amount of the bonds to be
  authorized, if approved; [and]
                     (B)  a general description of the purposes for
  which the bonds are to be authorized, if approved; and
                     (C)  if the issuer is a political subdivision,
  including a county, city, school district, or other special
  district:
                           (i)  the total amount of the political
  subdivision's outstanding debt on the first day of the fiscal year
  in which the election is held;
                           (ii)  the total amount of the political
  subdivision's debt payments on the first day of the fiscal year in
  which the election is held;
                           (iii)  the total amount of the political
  subdivision's debt obligations on the first day of the fiscal year
  in which the election is held, stated as a per capita amount for the
  political subdivision's population; and
                           (iv)  the estimated tax rate if the bonds are
  authorized, stated as a per capita amount for the political
  subdivision's population;
               (2)  with respect to a proposition that only seeks
  voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax:
                     (A)  [,] the amount of or maximum tax rate of the
  tax or tax increase for which approval is sought; and
                     (B)  if the authority holding the election is a
  political subdivision, including a county, city, school district,
  or other special district:
                           (i)  the tax rate increase if the imposition
  or increase is approved, stated as a per capita amount for the
  political subdivision's population; and
                           (ii)  a detailed description of the purposes
  for which the tax is to be imposed or increased, if approved; or
               (3)  with respect to a proposition that only seeks
  voter approval of the reduction of a tax:
                     (A)  [,] the amount of tax rate reduction or the
  tax rate for which approval is sought; and
                     (B)  if the authority holding the election is a
  political subdivision, including a county, city, school district,
  or other special district, the estimated tax rate reduction, stated
  as a per capita amount for the political subdivision's population.
         (f)  A proposition to which Subsection (e) applies may not
  exceed:
               (1)  5,000 characters; or
               (2)  a different limit prescribed by the secretary of
  state that ensures that the length of the proposition does not
  exceed one page of the ballot or one screen on an electronic voting
  machine.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.