BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 244

By: Bettencourt

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Tax increment reinvestment zones are special zones created to attract new investment in a designated area. These zones help finance costs of redevelopment and promote growth in areas that would otherwise not attract sufficient market development. Taxes attributable to new improvements in these zones are set aside in a fund to finance public improvements within the zone's boundaries. However, there have reportedly been issues with proper accountability and a lack of transparency with the boards of directors of these zones in the past. S.B. 244 seeks to address this issue by subjecting these boards of directors to state open meetings law.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 244 amends the Government Code to subject a board of directors of a reinvestment zone created under the Tax Increment Financing Act to state open meetings law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.