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Senate Bill 1880 |
Senate Author: Huffman |
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Effective: 6-17-11 |
House Sponsor: Howard, Charlie |
Senate Bill 1880 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to specify the nature of the Imperial Redevelopment District, a municipal utility district in Fort Bend County; provide legislative intent; and amend and establish related findings of benefit and public purpose.
The bill establishes that a sports and community venue facility is considered to be a park and recreational facility; provides for the district to undertake certain municipal management district projects and services; authorizes the district to exercise the powers given to a Type B development corporation; authorizes the district's board of directors to authorize the creation of a nonprofit corporation for an authorized project or service; authorizes the district to join and pay dues to a charitable or nonprofit organization to further a district purpose; authorizes the district to engage in activities that accomplish district economic development purposes; provides for district economic development programs; and provides for the acquisition of parking facilities and a sports and community venue facility by the district.
Previous law authorized the district, subject to voter approval, to impose an annual property tax for the provision of services or for the maintenance and operation of the district. In lieu of a property tax, the bill authorizes the district, subject to voter approval, to impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable property in the district for any district purpose and makes a certain limitation on such a tax for recreational facilities levied by a district located in certain counties inapplicable to the district.
The bill authorizes the district to impose contract taxes. The bill sets out provisions relating to district money used for improvements or services, a required petition for financing services and improvements with assessments, and a certain method of notice for an assessment hearing. The bill authorizes the board to impose and collect an assessment for any authorized purpose in all or any part of the district and sets out related provisions. The bill authorizes the district to designate reinvestment zones and to grant abatements of a tax or assessment on property in the zones. The bill authorizes the district to issue bonds or other obligations from assessments or contract payments to pay for any authorized district purpose and makes the limitation on the outstanding principal amount of bonds, notes, and other obligations provided by provisions relating to district bonds for recreational facilities in certain counties inapplicable to the district.
The bill revises provisions relating to district taxes for bonds and other obligations. The bill makes a municipal management district provision requiring Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approval regarding bonds for water, sewage, or drainage facilities applicable to the district.
The bill prohibits the district from exercising a power granted by certain provisions of the bill until the governing body of the City of Sugar Land consents to the power. The bill repeals certain provisions relating to bonds for joint road project contract costs, to certain authority of TCEQ over issuance of district bonds, and to the exemption of the district from provisions of law relating to bonds for county roads.