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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to ballot language requirements for a proposition seeking |
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voter approval for the issuance of bonds. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 45.003, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows: |
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(g) Notwithstanding Section 52.072, Election Code, the |
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question of whether to approve the issuance of bonds for the |
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construction, acquisition, and equipment of school buildings in the |
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district and the purchase of necessary sites for school buildings |
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may be submitted to the voters in a single ballot proposition, |
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except that bonds for each of the following purposes must be stated |
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in a separate proposition: |
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(1) the construction, improvement, or renovation of a |
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stadium; |
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(2) the construction, improvement, or renovation of a |
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natatorium; |
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(3) the construction, improvement, or renovation of |
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another recreational facility other than a gymnasium; |
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(4) the construction, improvement, or renovation of a |
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performing arts facility; |
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(5) the construction, improvement, or renovation of |
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housing for teachers as determined by the district to be necessary |
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to have a sufficient number of teachers for the district; and |
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(6) an acquisition or update of technology equipment, |
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other than equipment used for school security purposes. |
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(h) The question of whether to approve the issuance of bonds |
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for a building described by Subsection (g)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) |
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must be printed on the ballot as a separate ballot proposition |
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regardless of whether that building is proposed as part of the same |
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complex or building that contains traditional classroom |
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facilities. Each separate ballot proposition required by this |
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subsection must state the principal amount of the bonds to be issued |
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that constitutes the cost for construction of that portion of the |
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building or complex attributable to the building described by |
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Subsection (g)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) or to the traditional |
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classroom facilities, as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 52.072, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) to read as |
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follows: |
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(e) In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for |
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a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition |
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language, a proposition submitted to the voters for approval of the |
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issuance of bonds or the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax |
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shall specifically state, as applicable: |
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(1) with respect to a proposition seeking voter |
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approval of the issuance of bonds: |
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(A) the total principal amount of the bonds to be |
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authorized, if approved; and |
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(B) a plain language [general] description of the |
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single specific purpose [the purposes] for which the bonds are to be |
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authorized, if approved; |
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(2) with respect to a proposition that only seeks |
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voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax, the amount of |
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or maximum tax rate of the tax or tax increase for which approval is |
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sought; or |
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(3) with respect to a proposition that only seeks |
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voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the amount of tax rate |
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reduction or the tax rate for which approval is sought. |
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(f) Each single specific purpose for which bonds requiring |
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voter approval are to be issued must be printed on the ballot as a |
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separate proposition. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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