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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to holding elections on uniform election dates. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 41.253(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The transitional board of trustees shall divide the |
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consolidated district into nine single-member trustee districts in |
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accordance with the procedures provided by Section 11.052. The |
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transitional board shall order an election for the initial board of |
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trustees to be held on the first November [May] uniform election |
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date in an even-numbered year after the effective date of a |
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consolidation order. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 41.001(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, each |
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general or special election in this state shall be held on [one of
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the following dates:
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[(1)
the first Saturday in May in an odd-numbered
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year;
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[(2)
the first Saturday in May in an even-numbered
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year, for an election held by a political subdivision other than a
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county; or
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[(3)] the first Tuesday after the first Monday in |
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November in an even-numbered year. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to: |
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(1) a runoff election; |
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(2) an election to resolve a tie vote; |
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(3) an election held under an order of a court or other |
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tribunal; |
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(4) an emergency election ordered under Section |
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41.0011; |
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(5) an expedited election to fill a vacancy in the |
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legislature held under Section 203.013; |
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[(6)
an election held under a statute that expressly
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provides that the requirement of Subsection (a) does not apply to
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the election;] or |
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(6) [(7)] the initial election of the members of the |
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governing body of a newly incorporated city. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 41.0051 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 41.0051. ELECTION TO ISSUE BONDS. Notwithstanding any |
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other law, an election for the issuance of bonds by a political |
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subdivision shall be held on the uniform election date in an |
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even-numbered year. |
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SECTION 4. Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The governing body of a political subdivision[, other
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than a county or municipal utility district,] that holds its |
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general election for officers on a date other than the November |
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uniform election date in an even-numbered year shall [may], not |
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later than December 31, 2017 [2016], change the date on which it |
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holds its general election for officers to the November uniform |
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election date in an even-numbered year in a manner that does not |
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cause an officer's term to exceed any applicable constitutional |
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limits. |
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SECTION 5. Section 43.007(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The secretary of state shall implement a program to |
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allow each commissioners court participating in the program to |
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eliminate county election precinct polling places and establish |
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countywide polling places for: |
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(1) each general election for state and county |
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officers; |
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(2) [each election held on the uniform election date
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in May;
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[(3)] each election on a proposed constitutional |
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amendment; |
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(3) [(4)] each primary election and runoff primary |
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election if: |
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(A) the county chair or county executive |
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committee of each political party participating in a joint primary |
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election under Section 172.126 agrees to the use of countywide |
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polling places; or |
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(B) the county chair or county executive |
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committee of each political party required to nominate candidates |
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by primary election agrees to use the same countywide polling |
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places; and |
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(4) [(5)] each election of a political subdivision |
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located in the county that is held jointly with an election |
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described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3)[, or (4)]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 67.003(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection [(b) or] (c), each |
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local canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local |
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canvass at the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding |
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officer not earlier than the eighth day or later than the 11th day |
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after election day. |
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SECTION 7. Section 49.103(b), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) After confirmation of a district, an election shall be |
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held on the uniform election date, provided by Section 41.001, |
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Election Code, [in May of each even-numbered year] to elect the |
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appropriate number of directors. |
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SECTION 8. Section 56.804(a), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The election shall be held on the [a] uniform election |
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day [in May]. |
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SECTION 9. The following laws are repealed: |
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(1) Section 11.0581, Education Code; and |
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(2) Sections 41.001(c) and(d), 41.0052(e), 41.007(d), |
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42.002(c), 67.003(b), and 85.001(e), Election Code. |
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SECTION 10. This Act applies only to an election ordered on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. An election ordered before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |