AI-assisted research summary: Freeholders may petition the commissioners court for an election about animals running at large, but the petition must meet signature and content requirements.
Sec. 143.071. PETITION FOR ELECTION. (a) In accordance with this section, the freeholders of a county or an area within a county may petition commissioners court to conduct an election for the purpose of determining if cattle are to be permitted to run at large in the county or area. (b) The freeholders of any political subdivision of Bastrop, Blanco, Clay, Collin, DeWitt, Gonzales, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Parker, or Wise County may petition the commissioners court to conduct an election in the subdivision for the purpose of determining if domestic turkeys are to be permitted to run at large in the subdivision. (c) A petition for a countywide election on the running at large of cattle must be signed by at least 35 freeholders. Except as provided by Subsection (d) of this section, a petition for an election on the running at large of cattle in an area within a county must be signed by at least 15 freeholders. A petition for an election on the running at large of domestic turkeys must be signed by at least 25 freeholders. (d) A petition for an election in an area may be signed by a majority of the freeholders in the area if the area has fewer than 50 freeholders and is between two areas of the county that have previously adopted this subchapter. (e) A petition must: (1) clearly state each class of animal that the petitioners seek to prohibit from running at large; and (2) describe the boundaries of the area in which the election is to be held, if the election is to be less than countywide. Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1347, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.