1 SB222
2 209980-1
3 By Senator Allen (Constitutional Amendment)
4 RFD: Local Legislation
5 First Read: 10-FEB-21
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1 209980-1:n:02/10/2021:FC/ma LSA2021-456
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8 SYNOPSIS: This bill would propose a local
9 constitutional amendment relating to Tuscaloosa
10 County to prohibit the levy of any additional sales
11 and use tax in the county after ratification of
12 this amendment except upon approval by a majority
13 vote of the qualified electors of the area where
14 the tax will be paid voting at a referendum held
15 for that purpose on the date of the next regularly
16 scheduled general election. The amendment would
17 provide for publication of notice of the referendum
18 and for public hearings on the proposed sales and
19 use tax increase and would require public hearings
20 in Tuscaloosa County prior to the election on this
21 amendment.
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23 A BILL
24 TO BE ENTITLED
25 AN ACT
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1 To propose an amendment to the Constitution of
2 Alabama of 1901, relating to Tuscaloosa County, to prohibit
3 the levy of any additional sales and use tax in the county
4 after ratification of this amendment except upon approval by a
5 majority vote of the qualified electors in the area where the
6 tax will be paid, voting at a referendum held for that purpose
7 on the date of a regularly scheduled general election; to
8 provide for publication of notice of the referendum and public
9 hearings on the proposal; and to provide for public hearings
10 in Tuscaloosa County prior to the election on this amendment.
11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
12 Section 1. The following amendment to the
13 Constitution of Alabama of 1901, is proposed and shall become
14 valid as a part of the Constitution when all requirements of
15 this act are fulfilled:
16 PROPOSED AMENDMENT
17 After the ratification of this amendment, no
18 additional sales and use tax may be levied in Tuscaloosa
19 County unless the levy of the tax, including any increase in
20 an existing levy, is approved by a majority vote of the
21 qualified electors in the area where the tax will be paid
22 voting at a referendum held for that purpose on the date of
23 the next regularly scheduled general election not less than
24 three months after the enactment of the levy of the additional
25 sales and use tax. Notice of the referendum shall be published
26 in a newspaper published in the county for three consecutive
27 weeks, or if a municipal tax increase, in a newspaper
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1 published in the municipality if a newspaper is published in
2 the municipality, not less than 60 days prior to the
3 referendum and the county commission in the case of a
4 countywide tax, or the municipal governing body in the case of
5 a municipal tax, shall conduct not less than two public
6 hearings on the proposed sales and use tax increase prior to
7 the referendum.
8 Section 2. (a) An election upon the proposed
9 amendment shall be held at the next general election in
10 accordance with Section 284.01 of the Constitution of Alabama
11 of 1901, now appearing as Section 284.01 of the Official
12 Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as
13 amended, and the election laws of this state.
14 (b) Not less than 30 days prior to the date of the
15 election provided for in subsection (a), a public hearing on
16 this amendment shall be held by the county commissioner in
17 each district of the Tuscaloosa County Commission. Notice of
18 the public hearing schedule shall be published in a newspaper
19 of general circulation published in the county at least seven
20 days prior to the public hearings commencing.
21 Section 3. The appropriate election official shall
22 assign a ballot number for the proposed constitutional
23 amendment on the election ballot and shall set forth the
24 following description of the substance or subject matter of
25 the proposed constitutional amendment:
26 "Relating to Tuscaloosa County; proposing an
27 amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to prohibit
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1 the levy of any additional sales and use tax in the county
2 after ratification of this amendment except upon approval by a
3 majority vote of the qualified electors of the area where the
4 tax will be paid voting at a referendum held for that purpose
5 on the date of a regularly scheduled general election, and to
6 provide for publication of notice of the referendum and public
7 hearings on the proposal.
8 "Proposed by Act _________"
9 This description shall be followed by the following
10 language:
11 "Yes ( ) No ( )."
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