2009 Texas Code
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 2. ORGANIZATION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 9. HOME-RULE MUNICIPALITY  

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 2. ORGANIZATION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

SUBTITLE A. TYPES OF MUNICIPALITIES

CHAPTER 9. HOME-RULE MUNICIPALITY

Sec. 9.001. ADOPTION OR AMENDMENT OF HOME-RULE CHARTER. This

chapter applies to the adoption or amendment of a municipal

charter by a municipality authorized to do so by Article XI,

Section 5, of the Texas Constitution.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 9.002. SELECTION OF CHARTER COMMISSION. (a) The governing

body of the municipality may, by an ordinance adopted by at least

a two-thirds vote of its membership, order an election by the

voters of the municipality on the question: "Shall a commission

be chosen to frame a new charter?" The governing body shall by

ordinance order the election if presented with a petition signed

by at least 10 percent of the qualified voters of the

municipality.

(b) The election ordinance shall provide for the election to be

held on the date of the municipality's next general election

scheduled after the 30th day but on or before the 90th day after

the date the ordinance is adopted. However, if no general

election is scheduled during that period that allows sufficient

time to comply with other requirements of law, the election shall

be ordered for the first authorized uniform election date

prescribed by the Election Code that allows sufficient time to

comply with other requirements of law and that occurs after the

30th day after the date the ordinance is adopted and published in

a newspaper published in the municipality.

(c) The ballot at the election on the question prescribed by

Subsection (a) shall also provide for the election from the

municipality at large of a charter commission to draft a charter

if a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question of

choosing a charter commission approve the question. The

commission must consist of at least 15 members, but if it has

more than 15 members it may not have more than one member for

each 3,000 inhabitants of the municipality. The ballot may not

contain any party designation.

(d) The provisions of Subsections (a), (b), and (c) regarding

the selection of a charter commission do not apply to the first

charter election in a municipality if:

(1)(A) the governing body of the municipality selects a charter

commission;

(B) a charter commission is selected at a mass meeting; or

(C) the mayor of the municipality appoints a charter commission;

and

(2) the charter commission has proceeded with the formation of a

charter for the municipality.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 9.003. VOTE ON CHARTER. (a) The charter prepared by the

charter commission shall be submitted to the qualified voters of

the municipality at an election to be held on the first

authorized uniform election date prescribed by the Election Code

that allows sufficient time to comply with other requirements of

law and that occurs on or after the 40th day after the date the

charter commission completes its work. The governing body of the

municipality shall provide for the submission of the charter at

the election to the extent that the provisions for submission are

not prescribed by general law.

(b) Before the 30th day before the date of the election, the

governing body of the municipality shall order the municipal

clerk or the municipal secretary to mail a copy of the proposed

charter to each registered voter of the municipality.

(c) The charter commission shall prepare the charter so that to

the extent practicable each subject may be voted on separately.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 87(b), eff. Aug. 28,

1989.

Sec. 9.004. CHARTER AMENDMENTS. (a) The governing body of a

municipality on its own motion may submit a proposed charter

amendment to the municipality's qualified voters for their

approval at an election. The governing body shall submit a

proposed charter amendment to the voters for their approval at an

election if the submission is supported by a petition signed by a

number of qualified voters of the municipality equal to at least

five percent of the number of qualified voters of the

municipality or 20,000, whichever number is the smaller.

(b) The ordinance ordering the election shall provide for the

election to be held on the first authorized uniform election date

prescribed by the Election Code or on the earlier of the date of

the next municipal general election or presidential general

election. The election date must allow sufficient time to comply

with other requirements of law and must occur on or after the

30th day after the date the ordinance is adopted.

(c) Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of

general circulation published in the municipality. The notice

must:

(1) include a substantial copy of the proposed amendment;

(2) include an estimate of the anticipated fiscal impact to the

municipality if the proposed amendment is approved at the

election; and

(3) be published on the same day in each of two successive

weeks, with the first publication occurring before the 14th day

before the date of the election.

(d) An amendment may not contain more than one subject.

(e) The ballot shall be prepared so that a voter may approve or

disapprove any one or more amendments without having to approve

or disapprove all of the amendments.

(f) The requirement imposed by Subsection (c)(2) does not waive

governmental immunity for any purpose and a person may not seek

injunctive relief or any other judicial remedy to enforce the

estimate of the anticipated fiscal impact on the municipality.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1219, Sec. 5, eff. June 20,

1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 76, eff. Sept. 1,

1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

414, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 9.005. ADOPTION OF CHARTER OR AMENDMENT. (a) A proposed

charter for a municipality or a proposed amendment to a

municipality's charter is adopted if it is approved by a majority

of the qualified voters of the municipality who vote at an

election held for that purpose.

(b) A charter or an amendment does not take effect until the

governing body of the municipality enters an order in the records

of the municipality declaring that the charter or amendment is

adopted.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 9.006. CONCURRENT ELECTIONS. This chapter does not prevent

the voters at an election to adopt a charter or an amendment to a

charter from electing at the same election persons to hold office

under the charter or amendment.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 9.007. CERTIFICATION OF CHARTER OR AMENDMENT. (a) As soon

as practicable after a municipality adopts a charter or charter

amendment, the mayor or chief executive officer of the

municipality shall certify to the secretary of state an

authenticated copy of the charter or amendment under the

municipality's seal showing the approval by the voters of the

municipality.

(b) The secretary of state shall file and record the

certification in his office in a book kept for that purpose.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 9.008. REGISTRATION OF CHARTER OR AMENDMENT; EFFECT. (a)

The secretary or other officer of a municipality performing

functions similar to those of a secretary shall record in the

secretary's or other officer's office a charter or charter

amendment adopted by the voters of the municipality. If a charter

or amendment is not recorded on microfilm, as may be permitted

under another law, it shall be recorded in a book kept for that

purpose.

(b) Recorded charters or amendments are public acts. Courts

shall take judicial notice of them, and no proof is required of

their provisions.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.