BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 312
                                                    By: Wentworth
                                      Intergovernmental Relations
                                                         02-22-95
                                       Committee Report (Amended)
BACKGROUND

Chapter 232, Texas Local Government Code, is dedicated to providing
safe and orderly development of privately subdivided property. 
Information on the prospective uses of the land within a county's
boundaries allows a county to foresee and plan for roads, sewers,
and other services that will be required by future developments.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 312 requires subdivision owners to prepare a plat
stating the dimensions of each lot.  Provides that the
commissioners court is not required to publish notice of an
application under certain conditions.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 232.001(a) and (b), Local Government
Code, as follows:

     (a)  Requires the owner of a tract of land outside a
     municipality limits, who divides the tract into two or more
     parts to lay out lots or streets, alleys, or parks for public
     use, to have a plat of the subdivision prepared.
     
     (b)  Requires the plat to state the dimensions of each tract
     intended to be dedicated to public use.
     
SECTION 2. Amends Section 232.008(b), Local Government Code, to
authorize, rather than require, the commissioners court to
authorize the owner of the subdivision to file an instrument
canceling the subdivision in whole or in part.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 232.009, Local Government Code, as
follows:

     Sec. 232.009.  REVISION OF PLAT.  (a)  Created from existing
     Subsection (b).  Deletes existing Subsection (a) providing
     that this section applies only to property located outside
     municipalities with a population of 1.5 million or more.
     
     (b)  Redesignates existing Subsection (c).
       
       (c)  Provides that the commissioners court is not required
       under Subsection (b) to publish a notice of an application
       or give notice to nondeveloper owners if the proposed
       revision of the subdivision plat combines or reconfigures
       tracts, and the resulting tracts are larger than the
       original tracts.  Subsections (d) and (e) make no changes.
       
SECTION 4. Repealer:  Section 232.007, Local Government Code
(Manufactured Home Rental Communities).

SECTION 5. Effective date:  September 1, 1995.

SECTION 6. Emergency clause.