bill electing junior college trustees by plurality

The text as introduced · 551 words

89R15865 AND-D

By: Plesa
H.B. No. 4032

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the election of junior college district trustees by

plurality vote.

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

SECTION 1. Section 130.082, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (g) and (i) to read as follows:

(g) The board shall designate a number for the position held

by each member of the board, from one upward in consecutive

numerical order in such manner that the lowest numbers shall be

assigned to the members whose terms of office expire in the shortest

length of time, provided that any such position number designations

on existing boards under existing law at the effective date of this

act shall remain in effect. At each election candidates shall be

voted upon and be elected separately for each position on the board,

and the name of each candidate shall be placed on the official

ballot according to the number of the position for which the

candidate [ he or she ] is running. [ A candidate receiving a majority

of the votes cast for all candidates for a position shall be

declared elected. If no candidate receives such a majority, then

the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall run

against each other for the position. The run-off election for all

positions shall be held on a date that complies with law and shall

be ordered, notice thereof given, and held, as provided herein for

regular elections. ] Any resident, qualified elector of the

district may apply for a place [ have his or her name placed as a

candidate ] on the official ballot for any position to be filled at

each regular election by filing with the secretary of the board a

written application [ therefor ] signed by the applicant, not later

than 5 p.m. of the 45th day before the date of the election. An

application may not be filed earlier than the 30th day before the

date of the filing deadline. The [ Such ] application must state the

number of the position for which the applicant [ he or she ] is a

candidate, or the name of the incumbent member of the board holding

the position for which the applicant [ he or she ] desires to run.

The location on the ballot of the names of candidates for each

position shall be chosen by lot by the board. A candidate shall be

eligible to run for only one position at each election.

(i) The election of trustees of a countywide junior or

community college district that contains a city with a population

of more than 1.18 million located primarily in a county with a

population of 2.5 million or more shall be held on the first

Saturday in April of each even-numbered year. [ When a runoff

election is necessary, the board may order the election for a date

to coincide with the date of the runoff election for city officials,

if the city is holding a runoff election; otherwise, the board shall

set the date of the runoff election for not later than three weeks

following the regular election. ]

SECTION 2. Section 130.088(l), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.