Sec. 457.353. PETITION FOR WITHDRAWAL. (a) At the request of a qualified voter of a unit of election in an authority, the municipal secretary or other clerk or administrator of the unit of election shall deliver to the voter, in the number requested, petition signature sheets for a petition to withdraw from the authority prepared, numbered, and authenticated by the municipal secretary or other official. During the period when signatures on the petition may be obtained, the official shall authenticate and deliver additional petition signature sheets as requested by the voter. Only one petition for withdrawal may be in circulation at a time.

(b) Each sheet of a petition must have a heading in capital letters as follows:

"THIS PETITION IS TO REQUIRE AN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN (name of the unit of election) TO DISSOLVE (name of authority) IN (name of the unit of election) SUBJECT TO THE CONTINUED COLLECTION OF SALES TAXES FOR THE PERIOD REQUIRED BY LAW."

(c) In addition to the requirements of Section 277.002, Election Code, to be valid a petition must:

(1) be signed on authenticated petition sheets by not less than 10 percent of the number of registered voters of the unit of election as shown on the voter registration list of the county;

(2) be filed with the secretary, clerk, or administrator of the unit of election not later than the 60th day after the date the first sheet of the petition was received under Subsection (a);

(3) contain signatures that are signed in ink or indelible pencil by the voter; and

(4) have affixed or printed on each sheet an affidavit that is executed before a notary public by the person who circulated the sheet and that is in the following form and substance:

"STATE OF TEXAS

"COUNTY OF _______________

"I, ____________________, affirm that I personally witnessed each signer affix his or her signature to this page of this petition for the dissolution of (name of authority) in (name of unit of election). I affirm to the best of my knowledge and belief that each signature is the genuine signature of the person whose name is signed and that the date entered next to each signature is the date the signature was affixed to this page.

_______________________

"Sworn to and subscribed before me this the ____ day of ___, ____.

(SEAL)

_______________________________

Notary Public, State of Texas"

(d) Each sheet of the petition must be filed under Subsection (c)(2) at the same time as a single filing.

(e) The secretary, clerk, or administrator of a unit of election in which a petition for withdrawal from an authority is filed shall examine the petition and file with the governing body of the unit a report stating whether the petition, in the opinion of the secretary, clerk, or administrator, is valid.

(f) On receipt of a petition and a report under Subsection (e), the governing body shall examine the petition to determine whether the petition is valid. The governing body may hold public hearings and conduct or order investigations as appropriate to make the determination. The governing body's determination is conclusive of the issues.

(g) The governing body of a unit of election that receives an invalid petition shall reject the petition.

(h) A petition that is rejected is void, and the petition and each sheet of the rejected petition may not be used in connection with a subsequent petition.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.35(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.