S.B. No. 30

AN ACT

relating to ballot language requirements for a proposition seeking voter approval for the issuance of bonds.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 45.003, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows:

(g) Notwithstanding Section 1251.052, Government Code, the question of whether to approve the issuance of bonds for the construction, acquisition, and equipment of school buildings in the district, the purchase of new school buses, and the purchase of necessary sites for school buildings may be submitted to the voters in a single ballot proposition, except that bonds for each of the following purposes must be stated in a separate proposition:

(1) the construction, acquisition, or equipment of a stadium with seating capacity for more than 1,000 spectators;

(2) the construction, acquisition, or equipment of a natatorium;

(3) the construction, acquisition, or equipment of another recreational facility other than a gymnasium, playground, or play area;

(4) the construction, acquisition, or equipment of a performing arts facility;

(5) the construction, acquisition, or equipment of housing for teachers as determined by the district to be necessary to have a sufficient number of teachers for the district; and

(6) an acquisition or update of technology equipment, other than equipment used for school security purposes or technology infrastructure integral to the construction of a facility.

(h) The question of whether to approve the issuance of bonds for a building described by Subsection (g)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) must be printed on the ballot as a separate ballot proposition regardless of whether that building is proposed as part of the same complex or building that contains traditional classroom facilities. Each separate ballot proposition required by this subsection must state the principal amount of the bonds to be issued that constitutes the cost for construction of that portion of the building or complex attributable to the building described by Subsection (g)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) or to the traditional classroom facilities, as applicable.

SECTION 2. Section 52.072(e), Election Code, is amended 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;

[(2)] with respect to a proposition that only seeks voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax, the amount of or maximum tax rate of the tax or tax increase for which approval is sought; or

(2) [(3)] with respect to a proposition that only seeks voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the amount of tax rate reduction or the tax rate for which approval is sought.

SECTION 3. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by designating Sections 1251.001, 1251.003, 1251.004, 1251.005, and 1251.006 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter heading to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER A. PROVISIONS RELATING GENERALLY TO COUNTY AND

MUNICIPAL BOND ELECTIONS

SECTION 4. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter B to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B. BALLOT FOR DEBT OBLIGATIONS ISSUED BY POLITICAL

SUBDIVISION

Sec. 1251.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Debt obligation" means a public security, as defined by Section 1201.002, secured by and payable from ad valorem taxes. The term does not include public securities that are designated as self-supporting by the political subdivision issuing the securities.

(2) "Political subdivision" means a municipality, county, school district, or special taxing district.

Sec. 1251.052. FORM. (a) The ballot for a measure seeking voter approval of the issuance of debt obligations by a political subdivision shall specifically state:

(1) a plain language description of the single specific purposes for which the debt obligations are to be authorized;

(2) the total principal amount of the debt obligations to be authorized; and

(3) that taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the debt obligations will be imposed.

(a-1) Each single specific purpose for which debt obligations requiring voter approval are to be issued must be printed on the ballot as a separate proposition. A proposition may include as a specific purpose one or more structures or improvements serving the substantially same purpose and may include related improvements and equipment necessary to accomplish the specific purpose.

SECTION 5. Section 1251.002, Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 6. 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, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 30 passed the Senate on April 11, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; May 23, 2019, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 23, 2019, House granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2019, Senate adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 30 passed the House, with amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 5, three present not voting; May 23, 2019, House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2019, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 8, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor