JBM C.S.S.B. 92 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


NATURAL RESOURCES
C.S.S.B. 92
By: Patterson, Jerry (Gray)
3-12-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, Texas law does not authorize the Bayview Municipal Utility
District of Galveston County ("the district") to install and assess taxes
for street lighting.  This bill authorizes the district to install,
operate, maintain, and assess taxes for street lighting. 

PURPOSE

To authorize the district to install, operate, and maintain street
lighting and to assess costs for those functions against the district's
customers after obtaining voter approval. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 8280-287, V.T.C.S., by adding Section 2A to
provide as follows: 

 Sec. 2A.  Authorizes the district to install, operate, and maintain
lighting within a public utility easement or public right-of-way inside
the district's boundaries after obtaining voter approval.  Authorizes the
district to assess the cost of installing, operating, and maintaining the
street lighting against the district's customers after obtaining voter
approval. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.



COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

In Section 1 of the original, proposed Sec. 2A did not stipulate that
voter approval must first be obtained.  In the substitute, the words
"after voter approval" have been added before listing what the district
may do under proposed Sec. 2A.