Texas Proposition 10 (2009)
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The Texas Emergency Services Amendment, also known as House Joint Resolution 85, appeared on the November 3, 2009 ballot in Texas as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment.
The proposition limits the terms of governing board members of emergency service districts to four years. The bill was authored by Rep. Patricia Harless and was sponsored by Sen. Dan Patrick.[1]
The Texas House of Representatives approved the amendment on May 11, 2009 with a vote of 141-0, followed by the State Senate approval on May 27, 2009 with a vote of 31-0.[2]
Election results
Texas Proposition 10 was approved by voters on the night of November 3, 2009. Unofficial election results follow:[3]
| Proposition 10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes
| 756,624 | 73.09% | ||
| No | 278,444 | 26.90% | ||
| Total votes | 1,035,068 | 100.00% | ||
| Voter turnout | 7.99% | |||
Ballot title
The short ballot summary Texas voters saw on their ballot was "The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years."[4]
Constitutional changes
- See also: Amending the Texas Constitution
Proposition 10 amends Section 30(c) of Article 16 to say:
| The Legislature may provide that members of the governing board of a district or authority created by authority of Article III, Section 48-e, Article III, Section 52(b)(1) or (2), or Article XVI, Section 59, of this Constitution serve terms not to exceed four years. |
Section 30(c) currently reads:
| (c) The Legislature may provide that members of the governing board of a district or authority created by authority of Article III, Section 52(b)(1) or (2), or Article XVI, Section 59, of this Constitution serve terms not to exceed four years. |
Opposition
Some counties did not feel the need for the passage of the amendment, as some emergency service districts are appointed in procedures other than elections. In Comal County, board members are appointed by Commissioners Court. According to an article published in the local newspaper, seven districts provide emergency service to parts of Comal county. According to Jay Wetz, president of ESD No. 1 in Comal county: “It’s quite a bit of work involved with no pay. We have trouble getting people on the board as it is ... I wouldn’t want to see us go to an election system."[5]
Media editorial positions
- Main article: Endorsements of Texas ballot measures, 2009
Editorial boards in support
- The El Paso Times supported Proposition 10. They said,"This would allow members of emergency services district boards to serve four-year terms rather than the current two years. This would provide more continuity and experience on the boards."[6]
- The Austin Chronicle supported Proposition 10. Of the proposition the editorial board said,"trivial, and this belongs in ordinary legislation, not the state constitution."[7]
In an editorial published by the San Antonio Express-News, the publication expressed their support for both Proposition 7 and 10. The newspaper justified their support for proposition 10 by claiming:
- "The boards of the other emergency districts are appointed by the county commissioners of the county in which the district is located."
- "Elections cost time and money. Extending the term of office for these public servants makes fiscal sense for taxpayers."[8]
Editorial boards opposed
- The Star-Telegram editorial board opposed Proposition 10. They said,"The constitution allows creation of emergency services districts that can levy property taxes to pay for things like ambulance service and rural fire control within their boundaries. Prop 10 would allow the elected board members in some of those districts in and around Houston to serve terms of four years rather than two. This is goofy. There’s no good reason why board members of obscure districts in Harris County should have longer terms than members of the Texas House."[9]
See also
External links
Additional reading
- KGNS-TV,"Eleven proposed constitutional amendments before Texas voters this November," October 19, 2009
- The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,"Key items on ballot for Texans," October 18, 2009
- Fort Worth-Star Telegram, "Tuesday's ballot includes 11 constitutional amendments", November 1, 2009
- Dallas Morning-News, "Texas proposition advocates make final push", November 2, 2009
References
- ↑ History of HJR 85
- ↑ Enrolled Version of HJR 85
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Election Night Returns"
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official Ballot Language and Order for the Nov.3, 2009", July 28, 2009
- ↑ The Herald-Zeitung, "Prop. 10 would extend terms of ESD members", October 16, 2009
- ↑ El Paso Times,"Propositions: Appraisal reform on November ballot," October 18, 2009
- ↑ The Austin Chronicle,"The Austin Chronicle' Endorsements," October 16, 2009
- ↑ San Antonio Express-News, "Voters should approve Propositions 7 and 10", October 14, 2009
- ↑ Star-Telegram,"Nov. 3 election recommendations," October 16, 2009
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