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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to |
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indicate a preference for observing standard time year-round or |
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observing daylight saving time year-round. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The state, acting under the exemption provisions of |
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Section 3(a), Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. Section 260a(a)), |
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is exempt from the provisions of that law that establish daylight |
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saving time. The exemption provided by this subsection applies to |
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both the portion of the state using central standard time as the |
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official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain |
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standard time as the official standard time. |
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SECTION 2. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The state, acting as authorized under federal law, shall |
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observe daylight saving time year-round. This subsection applies |
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to both the portion of the state using central standard time as the |
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official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain |
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standard time as the official standard time. |
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SECTION 3. (a) At the general election to be held on |
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November 2, 2021, a statewide referendum shall be conducted to |
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allow the voters of this state to indicate a preference for either: |
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(1) observing standard time year-round; or |
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(2) observing daylight saving time year-round. |
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(b) The ballot for the referendum shall be printed to state |
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as follows: "Which of the following do you prefer? |
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"Observing standard time year-round." |
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"Observing daylight saving time year-round." |
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(c) The secretary of state shall design the ballot for the |
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referendum to enable a voter to select either of the statements set |
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out in Subsection (b) of this section as the voter's preference. |
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(d) The proposition for the referendum shall be printed on |
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the ballot under the heading: "Referendum Proposition" immediately |
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following the proposed constitutional amendment authorizing a |
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statewide referendum to allow the voters to choose between |
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observing standard time year-round and observing daylight saving |
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time year-round. |
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(e) Notice of the election shall be given in the same manner |
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that notice of proposed constitutional amendments is given. |
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(f) Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be |
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prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on the |
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proposed constitutional amendments. Immediately after the results |
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of the election are certified, the secretary of state shall |
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transmit a copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and |
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the speaker of the house of representatives. |
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SECTION 4. (a) If a majority of the votes cast in the |
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statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act are in favor of |
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"Observing standard time year-round," Section 1 of this Act takes |
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effect January 1, 2022, and Section 2 of this Act does not take |
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effect. |
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(b) If a majority of the votes cast in the referendum under |
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Section 3 are in favor of "Observing daylight saving time |
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year-round," Section 1 of this Act does not take effect and Section |
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2 of this Act takes effect only if the United States Congress enacts |
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legislation that becomes law that authorizes the State of Texas to |
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observe daylight saving time year-round. If the United States |
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Congress does not enact legislation that becomes law described by |
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this subsection, Section 2 of this Act has no effect. |
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SECTION 5. Sections 3 and 4 of this Act and this section |
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take effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of two-thirds of |
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all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, |
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Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the |
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vote necessary for immediate effect, Sections 3 and 4 of this Act |
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and this section take effect on the 91st day after the last day of |
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the legislative session. |