By: Birdwell, et al. S.B. No. 30
 
  (Phelan)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
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 52.072, Election Code, the
  question of whether to approve the issuance of bonds for the
  construction, acquisition, and equipment of school buildings in the
  district 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, improvement, or renovation of a
  stadium; 
               (2)  the construction, improvement, or renovation of a
  natatorium;
               (3)  the construction, improvement, or renovation of
  another recreational facility other than a gymnasium;
               (4)  the construction, improvement, or renovation of a
  performing arts facility;
               (5)  the construction, improvement, or renovation 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.
         (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, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) 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 plain language [general] description of the
  single specific purpose [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
               (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.
         (f)  Each single specific purpose for which bonds requiring
  voter approval are to be issued must be printed on the ballot as a
  separate proposition.
         SECTION 3.  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.