BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 3442

By: Cook

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that voters of the Fairfield Hospital District should be given the opportunity to increase the district's maximum tax rate. H.B. 3442 seeks to address this issue by providing for an election to increase that rate. 

 

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. 3442 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to change the manner in which notice of an election of the directors of the Fairfield Hospital District is provided from publication one time in a newspaper with general circulation in the district at least 35 days before the date of the election to publication in accordance with Election Code provisions relating to notice of a general or special election. The bill authorizes the district's board of directors to order an election to increase the maximum tax rate of the district to a rate capped at 25 cents on each $100 valuation of the taxable property in the district. The bill requires the board to order such an election on presentation of a petition that requests the election, states the maximum tax rate to be voted on at the election, and is signed by at least 100 registered voters of the district as determined by the most recent official list of registered voters. The bill provides for a required hearing on the petition, requires the board to order an election to authorize the increase of the maximum tax rate to the tax rate stated in the petition if after the hearing the board determines that the petition is in proper form and that an increase of the maximum tax rate would benefit the district, and sets out requirements for the election order. The bill prohibits the tax rate for all purposes from exceeding the maximum tax rate approved by the voters at an election to increase the district's maximum tax rate.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.