85R3440 SMH-F
 
  By: Bonnen of Galveston H.B. No. 1496
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the date for holding an election to ratify the ad
  valorem tax rate of a school district.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 26.08(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The governing body shall order that the election be held
  in the school district on the first uniform election date
  prescribed by [a date not less than 30 or more than 90 days after the
  day on which it adopted the tax rate.]  Section 41.001, Election
  Code, that allows sufficient time to comply with other requirements
  of law [does not apply to the election unless a date specified by
  that section falls within the time permitted by this section].  At
  the election, the ballots shall be prepared to permit voting for or
  against the proposition:  "Approving the ad valorem tax rate of
  $_____ per $100 valuation in (name of school district) for the
  current year, a rate that is $_____ higher per $100 valuation than
  the school district rollback tax rate, for the purpose of
  (description of purpose of increase)."  The ballot proposition must
  include the adopted tax rate and the difference between that rate
  and the rollback tax rate in the appropriate places.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies
  to the ad valorem tax rate of a school district beginning with the
  2017 tax year, except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section.
         (b)  If the governing body of a school district adopted an ad
  valorem tax rate for the school district for the 2017 tax year
  before the effective date of this Act, the change in law made by
  this Act applies to the ad valorem tax rate of that school district
  beginning with the 2018 tax year, and the law in effect when the tax
  rate was adopted applies to the 2017 tax year with respect to that
  school district.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.