By Denny                                              H.B. No. 3175
       74R8304 JJT-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the creation, boundaries, purposes, powers, duties,
    1-3  functions, authority, and financing of the Southwest Denton County
    1-4  Road and Utility District.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  CREATION OF DISTRICT.  Southwest Denton County
    1-7  Road and Utility District is created under Section 59, Article XVI,
    1-8  and Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, as a conservation
    1-9  and reclamation district and a road district.  The district is a
   1-10  governmental agency, a body politic and corporate, and a political
   1-11  subdivision of this state.
   1-12        SECTION 2.  BOUNDARIES.  The district includes the territory
   1-13  contained in the following area:
   1-14                                TRACT 1
   1-15        All that certain lot, tract or parcel of land located in the
   1-16  M.E.P.&P. RR.  SURVEY, Abstract 906 and the A. ROBINSON SURVEY,
   1-17  Abstract 1119, both in Denton County, Texas, being part of a called
   1-18  430.50 acre tract conveyed to the Claretian Theological Seminary,
   1-19  according to the deed recorded in Volume 453, Page 353, Deed
   1-20  Records, Denton County, Texas (D.R., D.Co., Tx.), being all of that
   1-21  certain Substitute Trustee's Deed and Bill of Sale to Pacific
   1-22  Southwest Bank, F.S.B., by deed recorded in Volume 3093, Page 490,
   1-23  D.R., D.Co., Tx., and being more particularly described by metes
   1-24  and bounds as follows:
    2-1        BEGINNING at a 3/4 inch iron pin found in the North line of
    2-2  Henrietta Creek Road (County Road) for the common Southeast corner
    2-3  of aforesaid 430.50 acres and called (200.036 acres) Substitute
    2-4  Trustee's Deed, said corner being by description South 00 degrees
    2-5  15 minutes 00 seconds East 2348-30/100 feet from the Southeast
    2-6  corner of Lot 55, BROOKSTONE I, an addition to Denton County,
    2-7  according to the plat recorded in Cabinet E, Slide 365, Map
    2-8  Records, Denton County, Texas;
    2-9        THENCE with the common South line of said Substitute
   2-10  Trustee's Deed and North line of Henrietta Creek Road, North 89
   2-11  degrees 22 minutes 11 seconds West 1692-60/100 feet to a 5/8 inch
   2-12  iron pin found for corner;
   2-13        THENCE departing said road, with a common Southwest line of
   2-14  this tract and a Northeast line of Henrietta Creek Estates
   2-15  (unrecorded addition) and generally with a fence, North 41 degrees
   2-16  01 minute 10 seconds West 114-08/100 feet to a 5/8 inch iron pin
   2-17  found and North 40 degrees 30 minutes 23 seconds West 2709-44/100
   2-18  feet to a 3/4 inch iron pin found for the common corner of
   2-19  aforesaid 430.50 acres and this tract;
   2-20        THENCE departing said limits of 430.50 acres, with the lines
   2-21  of aforementioned Substitute Trustee's Deed, and generally with a
   2-22  fence, the following:
   2-23        North 17 degrees 16 minutes 57 seconds East 917-97/100
   2-24        feet to a 5/8 inch iron pin found,
   2-25        North 89 degrees 45 minutes 16 seconds East 89-20/100
   2-26        feet to a 5/8 inch iron pin found,
   2-27        North 61 degrees 27 minutes 43 seconds East 964-13/100
    3-1        feet to a 1/2 inch iron pin found, and
    3-2        North 89 degrees 45 minutes 04 seconds East 1013-57/100
    3-3        feet to a 3/4 inch iron pin found;
    3-4        THENCE departing said fence and partway with a line common to
    3-5  aforementioned BROOKSTONE I, South 28 degrees 31 minutes 38 seconds
    3-6  East 995-56/100 feet to an "X" cut in concrete street for corner;
    3-7        THENCE South 58 degrees 56 minutes 49 seconds East 957-17/100
    3-8  feet to a 5/8 inch iron pin found for corner near a fence, another
    3-9  5/8 inch iron pin found bears North 00 degrees 15 minutes West
   3-10  3-27/100 fee;
   3-11        THENCE with the common East line of aforementioned 430.50
   3-12  acres and Substitute Trustee's Deed and generally with a fence,
   3-13  South 00 degrees 15 minutes 00 seconds East 2138-27/100 feet to the
   3-14  place of beginning and containing some 200-005/1000 acres of land.
   3-15                                TRACT 2
   3-16        Parts of the M.E.P. & P. R.R. Co. Survey, Abstract No. 906
   3-17  and the A. Robinson Survey, Abstract no. 1119, situated in the
   3-18  southeast part of Denton County, Texas; and embracing the tract
   3-19  described in the deed to R.S.R. Investments, recorded in volume
   3-20  1609, page 55 of the Denton County Deed Records as its west line is
   3-21  described in the Boundary Line Agreement recorded in volume 1989,
   3-22  page 266 of the said Deed Records and a portion of said R.S.R.
   3-23  tract appears as BROOKSTONE 1, an addition in said county recorded
   3-24  in Cabinet E, page 356 of the Denton County Plat Records.
   3-25        Beginning at a 1/2" iron rod for the northeast corner of said
   3-26  R.S.R. tract in a line for the south line of Litsey Road and being,
   3-27  by deed call, the northeast corner of the 430-50/100 acres tract
    4-1  described in the deed to Claretian Theological Seminary recorded in
    4-2  volume 453, page 353 of the said Deed Records.
    4-3        Thence south no degrees-56 minutes-23 seconds east, along the
    4-4  east line of said R.S.R. tract, 199-54/100 feet to a 3/4" iron rod.
    4-5        Thence south no degrees-11 minutes-16 seconds east,
    4-6  continuing along said east line of R.S.R. tract, at 1362-22/100
    4-7  feet to a 3/4" iron rod.
    4-8        Thence south no degrees-15 minutes-11 seconds east,
    4-9  continuing along said east line of R.S.R. tract, at 1580-46/100
   4-10  feet pass the southeast corner of said BROOKSTONE 1 Addition and
   4-11  continue in all, 1791-18/100 feet to a 5/8" iron rod for the
   4-12  southeast corner of said R.S.R. tract.
   4-13        Thence north 58 degrees-57 minutes-29 seconds west, along a
   4-14  south line of said R.S.R. tract, 957-14/100 feet to a mark "Y" in
   4-15  concrete.
   4-16        Thence north 28 degrees-33 minutes-21 seconds west, along a
   4-17  southwest line of said R.S.R. tract, 1476-37/100 feet to a 1/2"
   4-18  iron rod for the westerly southwest corner of said tract.
   4-19        Thence north 61 degrees-25 minutes-45 seconds east, along a
   4-20  northwest line of said R.S.R. tract, 232-04/100 feet to a 5/8" iron
   4-21  rod at the south terminus of the line described in the said
   4-22  Boundary Line Agreement recorded in said volume 1989, page 266 of
   4-23  the said Deed Records.
   4-24        Thence northerly along the said line described in the
   4-25  Boundary Line Agreement:
   4-26        along a curve to the right with a radius of 317-64/100
   4-27        feet a distance of 177-82/100 feet to a 1/2" iron rod
    5-1        at its end, the chord of said 177-82/100 feet arc is
    5-2        north 2 degrees-44 minutes-14 seconds west 175-51/100
    5-3        feet;
    5-4        north 13 degrees-18 minutes-02 seconds east 177-17/100
    5-5        feet to a 1/2" iron rod at the beginning of a curve to
    5-6        the left with a radius of 534-88/100 feet;
    5-7        then along said curve to the left 225-08/100 feet to a
    5-8        1/2" iron rod at its end and the beginning of a curve
    5-9        to the right with a radius of 232-94/100 feet, the
   5-10        chord of said 225-08/100 feet arc is north 1 degree-14
   5-11        minutes-44 seconds east 223-42/100 feet;
   5-12        then along said curve to the right 238-44/100 feet to a
   5-13        1/2" iron rod at its end, the chord of said 238-44/100
   5-14        feet arc is north 18 degrees-30 minutes-56 seconds east
   5-15        228-17/100 feet; north 47 degrees-50 minutes-25 seconds
   5-16        east 119-99/100 feet to a 1/2" iron rod at the
   5-17        beginning of a curve to the left with a radius of
   5-18        87-99/100 feet;
   5-19        then along said curve to the left 70-54/100 feet to a
   5-20        1/2" iron at its end, the chord of said 70-54/100 feet
   5-21        arc is north 24 degrees-52 minutes-27 seconds east
   5-22        68-66/100 feet;
   5-23        north 1 degrees-54 minutes-30 seconds east 21-31/100
   5-24        feet to a 1/2" iron rod at the beginning of a curve to
   5-25        the right with a radius of 648-01/100 feet;
   5-26        then along said curve to the right 162-71/100 feet to a
   5-27        1/2" iron rod at its end, the chord of said 162-71/100
    6-1        feet arc is north 9 degrees-06 minutes-06 seconds east
    6-2        162-29/100 feet; north 16 degrees-17 minutes-42 seconds
    6-3        east 78-09/100 feet to a 1/2" iron rod at the beginning
    6-4        of a curve to the right with a radius of 150-83/100
    6-5        feet;
    6-6        then along said curve to the right 56-74/100 feet to a
    6-7        1/2" iron rod at its end, the chord of said 56-74/100
    6-8        feet arc is north 27 degrees-04 minutes-21 seconds east
    6-9        56-41/100 feet; north 37 degrees-51 minutes-01 seconds
   6-10        east 25-19/100 feet to a 1/2" iron rod at the beginning
   6-11        of a curve to the left with a radius of 205-56/100
   6-12        feet;
   6-13        then along said curve to the left 27-98/100 feet to a
   6-14        1/2" iron rod at its end and the beginning of another
   6-15        curve to the left with a radius of 24-89/100 feet, the
   6-16        chord of said 27-98/100 feet arc is north 33 degrees-57
   6-17        minutes-04 seconds east 27-96/100 feet;
   6-18        then along said curve to the left 13-72/100 feet to a
   6-19        1/2" iron rod at its end and the beginning of another
   6-20        curve to the left with a radius of 517-20/100 feet, the
   6-21        chord of said 13-72/100 feet arc is north 14 degrees-15
   6-22        minutes-14 seconds east 13-55/100 feet;
   6-23        then along said curve to the left 71-72/100 feet to a
   6-24        1/2" iron rod at its end, the chord of said 71-72/100
   6-25        feet arc is north 5 degrees-30 minutes-58 seconds west
   6-26        71-66/100 feet; and north 9 degrees-29 minutes-19
   6-27        seconds west 95-15/100 feet to a mark "Y" on top of
    7-1        concrete column for the northwest corner of said R.S.R.
    7-2        tract in a line for the south line of said Litsey Road.
    7-3        Thence south 89 degrees-35 minutes-54 seconds east, along the
    7-4  north line of said R.S.R. tract, 993-11/100 feet to the place of
    7-5  beginning and containing 82-332/1000 acres.
    7-6        SECTION 3.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:
    7-7              (1)  "Board" means the board of directors of the
    7-8  district.
    7-9              (2)  "District" means the Southwest Denton County Road
   7-10  and Utility District.
   7-11        SECTION 4.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.  (a)  The legislature finds
   7-12  that the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, and Section 52,
   7-13  Article III, Texas Constitution, will be accomplished by the
   7-14  creation of the district and that all land and other property
   7-15  included within the district's boundaries will be benefited by the
   7-16  works and projects to be accomplished by the district, and that the
   7-17  district is created to serve a public use and benefit.
   7-18        (b)  The legislature further finds that the boundaries and
   7-19  field notes of the district form a closure, and that if there is
   7-20  any mistake in the recorded description of the boundary
   7-21  description, the mistake does not affect the organization,
   7-22  existence, and validity of the district, the right of the district
   7-23  to levy and collect taxes, or the legality or operation of the
   7-24  district or its governing body in the exercise of any powers,
   7-25  functions, purposes, or authority provided by this Act.
   7-26        (c)  The legislature further finds that the requirements of
   7-27  Sections 59(d) and (e), Article XVI, Texas Constitution, have been
    8-1  met and that the legislature has the authority to enact this Act.
    8-2        SECTION 5.  GENERAL POWERS.  (a)  The district may exercise
    8-3  all of the rights, powers, privileges, authority, and functions
    8-4  conferred by Section 59, Article XVI, and Section 52, Article III,
    8-5  Texas Constitution, and the general laws of this state, including
    8-6  Chapters 50 and 54, Water Code, applicable to municipal utility
    8-7  districts created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
    8-8  Constitution.  This Act prevails over any provision of the general
    8-9  law that is in conflict with or inconsistent with this Act.
   8-10        (b)  Those rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions,
   8-11  and duties of the district subject to the continuing right of
   8-12  supervision of the state shall be so exercised by and through the
   8-13  Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.  The Texas Natural
   8-14  Resource Conservation Commission shall have authority over district
   8-15  bonds and projects as provided by Sections 50.107, 54.516, and
   8-16  54.517, Water Code.
   8-17        (c)  The district may annex or exclude territory as provided
   8-18  by Subchapter H, Chapter 54, Water Code; however, the governing
   8-19  body of the City of Fort Worth, by ordinance or resolution, must
   8-20  consent to an annexation of land to the district before the
   8-21  annexation.
   8-22        SECTION 6.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS.  (a)  The district is
   8-23  governed by a board of directors composed of three persons who must
   8-24  be at least 21 years old, be resident citizens of the State of
   8-25  Texas, and either own land subject to taxation in the district or
   8-26  be qualified voters within the district.
   8-27        (b)  The initial directors shall be appointed by the Texas
    9-1  Natural Resource Conservation Commission upon petition filed with
    9-2  the commission and signed by a majority in value of the holders of
    9-3  title of land within the district.  The initial directors shall
    9-4  serve until the first elected directors have qualified for office.
    9-5        (c)  On the first Saturday in May in the first even-numbered
    9-6  year following the confirmation election, the board shall hold in
    9-7  the district an election to elect one director to serve a two-year
    9-8  term and two directors to serve four-year terms.  Thereafter, on
    9-9  the first Saturday in May in each following even-numbered year,
   9-10  there shall be an election of one director in one election and two
   9-11  directors in the next election in continued sequence.  If uniform
   9-12  election dates are changed so that the first Saturday of May is not
   9-13  a uniform election date, the board shall call and hold elections on
   9-14  a uniform election date.
   9-15        (d)  Two members of the board may fill a vacancy on the board
   9-16  by appointment of a person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired
   9-17  term.  If at any time there are fewer than two qualified directors,
   9-18  the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall appoint
   9-19  the necessary number of persons to fill all vacancies on the board.
   9-20        (e)  Two directors constitute a quorum and a concurrence of
   9-21  two is sufficient in all matters pertaining to the business of the
   9-22  district.
   9-23        (f)  Chapter 54, Water Code, governs the administrative
   9-24  matters relating to the district to the extent that the chapter is
   9-25  not in conflict or inconsistent with this Act.
   9-26        SECTION 7.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION.  The board shall call and
   9-27  hold a confirmation election to confirm establishment of the
   10-1  district in the time and manner provided by Chapter 54, Water Code.
   10-2  The election may be called and held at the same time as a bond
   10-3  election for the district.  Section 41.001(a), Election Code, does
   10-4  not apply to a confirmation election held as provided by this
   10-5  section.
   10-6        SECTION 8.  ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY.  (a)  The district may levy
   10-7  an assessment against all taxable real property in the district for
   10-8  the purpose of providing improvements, including purchasing,
   10-9  constructing, acquiring, owning, operating, repairing, improving,
  10-10  or extending any work, facility, plant, equipment, appliance, or
  10-11  other improvement needed to accomplish the purposes of the
  10-12  district.
  10-13        (b)  The district may assess property:
  10-14              (1)  equally by front foot or by square foot;
  10-15              (2)  according to the value of the property as the
  10-16  board determines, with or without regard to improvements on the
  10-17  property; or
  10-18              (3)  in any other manner that results in an equitable
  10-19  distribution of assessments, with equal shares of the cost being
  10-20  imposed on property similarly benefited.
  10-21        (c)  Before levying an assessment, the board shall adopt an
  10-22  assessment plan as provided by this section.
  10-23        (d)  The board shall adopt a proposed assessment plan that
  10-24  includes the improvements to be provided, the estimated cost of the
  10-25  improvements, the amount of bonds or certificates of assessment to
  10-26  be issued, the method of assessment, and a proposed assessment roll
  10-27  stating the assessment against each parcel of land in the district,
   11-1  as determined by the method of assessment the board chooses.  The
   11-2  district shall maintain on file and open to public inspection:
   11-3              (1)  an engineering report setting forth the proposed
   11-4  improvements and their estimated costs, together with maps, plats,
   11-5  profiles, and data fully showing and explaining the report; and
   11-6              (2)  the proposed assessment roll.
   11-7        (e)  The board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed
   11-8  plan, which may be adjourned from time to time until the board
   11-9  makes findings by resolution as to the advisability of the
  11-10  improvements, the estimated cost of providing the improvements, the
  11-11  amount of bonds or certificates of assessment to be issued, the
  11-12  method of assessment, and the proposed assessment roll.  The
  11-13  district shall publish notice of the hearing once a week for two
  11-14  consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the
  11-15  county in which the district is located, with the first publication
  11-16  being at least 14 days before the day set for the hearing.  The
  11-17  district by mail shall send notice of the hearing to each owner of
  11-18  real property in the district, as determined from the most recent
  11-19  certified property tax rolls of the appraisal district in which the
  11-20  property is located, at least 14 days before the day set for the
  11-21  hearing.  The notice must:
  11-22              (1)  include the date, time, and place of the hearing;
  11-23              (2)  include a description of the proposed
  11-24  improvements;
  11-25              (3)  state the estimated cost of providing the
  11-26  improvements;
  11-27              (4)  state the amount of bonds or certificates of
   12-1  assessment to be issued;
   12-2              (5)  state the method of assessment;
   12-3              (6)  state that an engineering report and proposed
   12-4  assessment roll are on file and open to public inspection and
   12-5  identify where they may be inspected; and
   12-6              (7)  state that written or oral objections will be
   12-7  considered at the hearing.  The notice sent to a landowner by mail
   12-8  must include also the amount of assessment estimated to be
   12-9  apportioned to that owner's property.
  12-10        (f)  The failure of a property owner to receive notice of the
  12-11  hearing and of the estimated assessment does not affect the
  12-12  validity of the hearing or a subsequent assessment.
  12-13        (g)  Before the adjournment of the hearing, the board shall
  12-14  hear and pass on any objection to the proposed assessment plan or
  12-15  to a proposed assessment.  The board may amend the proposed
  12-16  assessment plan or a proposed assessment on any parcel at any time
  12-17  before the adjournment.  After hearing and passing on objections,
  12-18  the board shall by order adopt a final assessment plan setting
  12-19  forth the improvements to be constructed or acquired, the estimated
  12-20  costs of providing the improvements, the amount of bonds or
  12-21  certificates of assessment to be issued, the assessment roll, the
  12-22  method of assessment, and the rate of interest on the assessment.
  12-23  The district may provide for assessments to be paid in periodic
  12-24  installments in amounts necessary to pay the principal of and
  12-25  interest on bonds or certificates of assessment as they accrue.
  12-26        (h)  The district may issue bonds or certificates of
  12-27  assessment secured by a pledge of all or part of the funds received
   13-1  by the district from the assessment.  Bonds or certificates of
   13-2  assessment, except refunding bonds and certificates, secured in
   13-3  whole or in part by assessments, may not be issued by the district
   13-4  until authorized by a majority vote of the resident electors of the
   13-5  district voting in an election called and held for that purpose.
   13-6  The election may be held on the same day as the confirmation
   13-7  election.  The election may be called by a separate election order
   13-8  or as part of the confirmation election order.  Bonds and
   13-9  certificates of assessment, including refunding bonds and
  13-10  certificates,  may be issued only in the form and manner provided
  13-11  by Chapter 54, Water Code, for the issuance of bonds secured by ad
  13-12  valorem taxes to the extent Chapter 54 is consistent with this Act.
  13-13  In addition to the requirements of Chapter 54, Water Code:
  13-14              (1)  notice of the election on the bonds or
  13-15  certificates of assessment must contain the proposition to be voted
  13-16  on, with the estimated costs of providing the improvements and the
  13-17  method of assessment as provided by the final assessment plan; and
  13-18              (2)  the ballots must be printed to permit voting for
  13-19  or against the issuance of the bonds or certificates of assessment,
  13-20  as appropriate, and the levy of assessments equitably distributed
  13-21  and adequate to provide for the payment of the bonds or
  13-22  certificates of assessment.
  13-23        (i)  After adopting the final assessment plan, the board by
  13-24  order shall levy the assessment as a special assessment on the
  13-25  property in the district.
  13-26        (j)  The board by mail shall provide all landowners in the
  13-27  district notice of the assessment levied on each owner's property.
   14-1  The notice must state the amount of the assessment and the method
   14-2  of payment.  The validity of the assessment is not affected by the
   14-3  failure of a landowner to receive the notice.
   14-4        (k)  After the levy of an assessment, a property owner may
   14-5  appeal the assessment levied on the property to the board.  The
   14-6  property owner must file a notice of appeal with the board not
   14-7  later than the 30th day after the date the assessment is levied by
   14-8  the board.  The board shall set a date to hear the appeal.  The
   14-9  property owner may appeal the board's decision on the assessment to
  14-10  a court of competent jurisdiction.  The property owner must file
  14-11  notice of the appeal with the court of competent jurisdiction not
  14-12  later than the 30th day after the date of the board's final
  14-13  decision with respect to the assessment.  Failure to file either of
  14-14  the notices in the time required by this subsection results in a
  14-15  loss of the right to appeal the assessment.
  14-16        (l)  After notice and hearing in the manner required for
  14-17  original assessments, the board may make a new assessment or revise
  14-18  an assessment to:
  14-19              (1)  correct omissions or mistakes in an assessment;
  14-20              (2)  reassess an assessment that is against a parcel of
  14-21  land and that was set aside by a court; or
  14-22              (3)  preserve in any other manner equity of
  14-23  distribution.
  14-24        (m)  The board may not make a change to the final assessment
  14-25  plan that would impair the district's ability to meet all of the
  14-26  district's outstanding obligations that are secured by and payable
  14-27  from the assessment.
   15-1        (n)  An assessment and any interest, incurred expenses of
   15-2  collection, and incurred reasonable attorney's fees are a first
   15-3  lien against the assessed property until paid, on parity with ad
   15-4  valorem tax liens and superior to all other liens.  The owner of
   15-5  assessed property is personally liable for the payment of the
   15-6  assessment and may pay at any time the entire assessment, with
   15-7  interest that has accrued on the assessment on any lot or parcel.
   15-8  The lien is effective from the date the assessment is levied until
   15-9  the date the total assessment for that property is paid, and the
  15-10  district may enforce the lien in the same manner that the court
  15-11  enforces an ad valorem tax lien.  Liability for an assessment
  15-12  passes with the property on a transfer of ownership.
  15-13        (o)  The district may issue and transfer, on terms and
  15-14  conditions determined by the board, certificates of assessment for
  15-15  each assessed lot or parcel.  For a revised assessment, the
  15-16  district shall provide a certificate of assessment reflecting any
  15-17  change in the value of the original assessment.  A certificate must
  15-18  show the amount of the lien on the assessed property, the liability
  15-19  of the property owner for the lien, the terms of payment, and the
  15-20  terms and conditions of transfer of the certificate.  The
  15-21  certificate must state that the assessment was imposed, the
  15-22  certificate was issued in accordance with the requirements of this
  15-23  section, the certificate is not an obligation of a county in which
  15-24  the district is located, and the certificate is not secured by a
  15-25  pledge of the faith or credit of a county in which the district is
  15-26  located.  A certificate is prima facie evidence of all of the
  15-27  matters shown on the certificate.  The holder of the certificate
   16-1  may enforce the assessment in the same manner as the district may
   16-2  enforce assessments made under this section.
   16-3        (p)  A person who sells or conveys real property in the
   16-4  district shall supplement the notice to purchaser required by
   16-5  Section 50.301, Water Code, to include the following statement:
   16-6  "The district has the authority to levy assessments and may,
   16-7  subject to voter approval, issue bonds or certificates of
   16-8  assessment and levy assessments in payment of such bonds or
   16-9  certificates of assessment.  As of this date, the amount of
  16-10  assessments levied by the district is $__________, and the
  16-11  assessment on the property you are about to purchase is $_____.  An
  16-12  unpaid assessment is a personal obligation of the person that owned
  16-13  the property at the time the assessment was levied by the district
  16-14  and is secured by a lien on the property.  Any person may request a
  16-15  certificate from the district stating the amount, if any, of unpaid
  16-16  assessments on a tract of property in the district."
  16-17        SECTION 9.  ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.  (a)  The district may
  16-18  purchase, acquire, construct, own, operate, maintain, repair,
  16-19  rebuild, add to, improve, or extend inside or outside its
  16-20  boundaries macadamized, graveled, or paved roads for the benefit of
  16-21  the district.
  16-22        (b)  The district may:
  16-23              (1)  reimburse a private individual or entity for money
  16-24  spent to purchase, acquire, construct, repair, improve or extend a
  16-25  road or improvement that will benefit the district and that has
  16-26  been or will be dedicated to or otherwise used by the public; or
  16-27              (2)  purchase a road or improvement constructed or
   17-1  acquired by a private individual or entity that will benefit the
   17-2  district, whether the road or improvement is constructed before or
   17-3  after the district is created.
   17-4        (c)  The district may:
   17-5              (1)  issue bonds, notes, and other obligations, or
   17-6  otherwise lend its credit, for the purpose of purchasing,
   17-7  acquiring, constructing, owning, operating, maintaining, repairing,
   17-8  rebuilding, adding to, improving, or extending macadamized,
   17-9  graveled, or paved roads, or in aid of these purposes; and
  17-10              (2)  levy and collect ad valorem taxes to pay interest
  17-11  on the bonds and provide a sinking fund for the redemption of the
  17-12  bonds, as contemplated and authorized by Section 52, Article III,
  17-13  Texas Constitution.
  17-14        (d)  The district may not issue bonds secured by taxes under
  17-15  Subsection (c) of this section in an amount that exceeds one-fourth
  17-16  of the assessed valuation of real property in the district.  The
  17-17  district may not issue bonds secured by taxes under Subsection (c)
  17-18  of this section until the bonds are authorized by a two-thirds
  17-19  majority vote of individuals qualified to vote and actually voting
  17-20  in the area within the boundaries of the district at an election
  17-21  called for that purpose.
  17-22        (e)  The election required by Subsection (d) of this section
  17-23  shall be held in the manner provided by Chapter 54, Water Code, for
  17-24  elections on bonds secured by ad valorem taxes, to the extent that
  17-25  manner is consistent with this Act.
  17-26        (f)  The district may issue bonds or certificates of
  17-27  assessment secured by assessments, in the manner and form provided
   18-1  by Section 8 of this Act, for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring,
   18-2  constructing, owning, operating, maintaining, repairing,
   18-3  rebuilding, adding to, improving, or extending macadamized,
   18-4  graveled, or paved roads, or in aid of these purposes.
   18-5        (g)  The board has the powers provided by Subchapter J,
   18-6  Chapter 54, Water Code, notwithstanding the acreage requirements of
   18-7  Section 54.801(a), Water Code, to define areas or designate certain
   18-8  property of the district to pay for improvements, facilities, or
   18-9  services that primarily benefit that area.  Subchapter J, Chapter
  18-10  54, Water Code, to the extent not inconsistent with this Act,
  18-11  applies to the board's exercise of its powers under this
  18-12  subsection.
  18-13        (h)  The board may adopt the powers of a road utility
  18-14  district operating under Chapter 13, Acts of the 68th Legislature,
  18-15  2nd Called Session, 1984 (Article 6674r-1, Vernon's Texas Civil
  18-16  Statutes).  Chapter 13, Acts of the 68th Legislature, 2nd Called
  18-17  Session, 1984 (Article 6674r-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to
  18-18  the extent not inconsistent with the Water Code and the general
  18-19  laws of this state applicable to the district, applies to the
  18-20  board's exercise of its powers under this subsection.
  18-21        SECTION 10.  EMERGENCY.  The importance of this legislation
  18-22  and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
  18-23  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
  18-24  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
  18-25  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
  18-26  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
  18-27  passage, and it is so enacted.