Bill Text: TX HB4052 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to voter approval of a county or municipal budget that reduces by a certain percentage the amount allocated to train and compensate individuals who provide a fire protection, law enforcement, or emergency medical service.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-29 - Referred to State Affairs [HB4052 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB4052-Introduced.html

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87R9403 SMT-D
By: Jetton H.B. No. 4052

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to voter approval of a county or municipal budget that
reduces by a certain percentage the amount allocated to train and
compensate individuals who provide a fire protection, law
enforcement, or emergency medical service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 140.0047 to read as follows:
Sec. 140.0047. ELECTION REQUIRED FOR REDUCTION IN BUDGET
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL EXPENSES. (a) In this section:
(1) "Public safety personnel expenses" means money
spent to train and compensate individuals who provide a public
safety service.
(2) "Public safety service" means a fire protection,
law enforcement, or emergency medical service.
(b) This section does not apply to the budget for a
municipal department that employs 20 or fewer public safety
personnel for a public safety service.
(c) If a county or municipality adopts a budget in which the
amount of money allocated for public safety personnel expenses for
a public safety service is less than the amount allocated for those
expenses in the preceding fiscal year by more than the sum of the
percentage by which the county's or municipality's total revenue is
reduced from the preceding fiscal year and five percent, the
registered voters of the county or municipality, as applicable, at
an election held for that purpose, must determine whether to
approve the amount allocated.
(d) The governing body of the county or municipality shall
order that the election be held in the county or municipality, as
applicable, on the earliest date that allows sufficient time to
comply with the requirements of other law for holding the election,
except Section 41.001(a), Election Code. Notwithstanding Section
41.001(a), Election Code, the county or municipality may hold the
election on a date other than a uniform election date.
(e) If a majority of votes cast in the election favor
approving the amount allocated for the public safety personnel
expenses, the budget is approved. If the amount allocated is not
approved, the governing body shall amend the budget by allocating
for the public safety personnel expenses an amount for the current
fiscal year that is not less than the amount allocated for those
expenses in the preceding fiscal year reduced by a percentage equal
to the sum of the percentage by which the county's or municipality's
total revenue is reduced from the preceding fiscal year and five
percent.
(f) For purposes of determining the amount of reduction of
the amount allocated in a budget for public safety personnel
expenses, reductions of the budget related to the termination of
personnel for bad conduct are not included.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a budget adopted by a county or municipality on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.