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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the election of junior college district trustees by |
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plurality vote. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 130.082, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsection (g-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(g) The board shall [designate a] number [for] the positions |
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on [position held by each member of] the board[, from one upward] in |
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the [consecutive numerical] order in which the [such manner that
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the lowest numbers shall be assigned to the members whose] terms of |
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office of the members expire [in the shortest length of time], |
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provided that any [such] position number designations on existing |
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boards under existing law on [at] the effective date of this act or |
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on the effective date of an amendment to this subsection shall |
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remain in effect. At each election candidates must [shall] be voted |
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upon and be elected separately for each position on the board, and |
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the name of each candidate must [shall] be placed on the official |
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ballot according to the number of the position for which the |
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candidate [he or she] is running. The [A] candidate receiving the |
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highest number of [a majority of the] votes cast [for all
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candidates] for each respective [a] position to be filled at the |
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election is [shall be declared] elected. The board shall place a |
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candidate's name [If no candidate receives such a majority, then
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the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall run
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against each other for the position. The run-off election for all
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positions shall be held on a date that complies with law and shall
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be ordered, notice thereof given, and held, as provided herein for
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regular elections.
Any resident, qualified elector of the district
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may have his or her name placed as a candidate] on the official |
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ballot for any position to be filled at each regular election if the |
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candidate is a resident of the district, is a qualified elector of |
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the district, and files [by filing] with the secretary of the board |
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a written application [therefor] signed by the applicant that |
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complies with Section 144.005, Election Code. The [, not later than
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5 p.m. of the 45th day before the date of the election. An
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application may not be filed earlier than the 30th day before the
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date of the filing deadline. Such] application must state the |
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number of the position [for which he or she is a candidate,] or the |
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name of the incumbent member of the board holding the position for |
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which the candidate [he or she] desires to run. The order |
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[location] on the ballot of the names of candidates for each |
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position shall be chosen by lot by the board. A candidate shall be |
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eligible to run for only one position at each election. |
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(g-1) The board by resolution may provide, not later than the |
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180th day before the date of an election, that a candidate must |
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receive a majority of the votes cast for a position to be filled at |
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the election under Subsection (g). A resolution adopted under this |
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subsection is effective for subsequent elections until rescinded by |
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a subsequent resolution adopted not later than the 180th day before |
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the date of the first election to which the rescission applies. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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130.082(g), Education Code, applies only to an election ordered on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |