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Senate Bill 2473 |
Senate Author: Patrick, Dan |
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Effective: 5-27-09 |
House Sponsor: Fletcher |
Senate Bill 2473 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to create the Harris County Improvement District No. 13. The bill grants the district the powers of a Type B development corporation and a municipal management district, as well as powers to establish economic development programs and the powers of a municipality under Local Government Code provisions relating to planning and development. The district may contract for law enforcement services. It may pursue public parking facilities supported fees, charges, tolls, and the issuance associated bonds or notes to finance that cost. Assessments to finance a service or an improvement project are prohibited except by petition of a requisite number of real property owners in the assessed area. The bill prohibits the district from imposing an impact fee or assessment on a gas or electric utility, a power generation company, or certain providers of telecommunications services and cable television. Voter approval is required to impose sales and use or property taxes or to issue bonds payable from property taxes. The bill authorizes the district to grant tax or assessment abatements and provides that all or any part of the district may be included in a reinvestment zone or enterprise zone, but specifies that the law prohibiting taxes, assessments, or impact fees for certain types of residential properties, normally applicable to municipal management districts, does not apply. The bill contains provisions relating to annexations and exclusions. It prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain. The district may limit improvements, facilities, or services and supportive taxes or bonds to a defined area or designated properties.