By Giddings                                     H.B. No. 1117

      75R5646 CAG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the creation and powers of a neighborhood empowerment

 1-3     zone.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 12, Local Government Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Chapter 377 to read as follows:

 1-7                 CHAPTER 377.  NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT ZONE

 1-8           Sec. 377.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "zone" means a

 1-9     neighborhood empowerment zone created by a municipality under this

1-10     chapter.

1-11           Sec. 377.002.  CREATION OF ZONE.  A municipality may create a

1-12     neighborhood empowerment zone covering a part of the municipality

1-13     if the municipality determines the creation of the zone would

1-14     promote:

1-15                 (1)  the creation of affordable housing in the zone;

1-16                 (2)  an increase in economic development in the zone;

1-17     or

1-18                 (3)  an increase in the quality of social services,

1-19     education, or public safety provided to a person living in the

1-20     zone.

1-21           Sec. 377.003.  ADOPTION OF ZONE.  (a)  A municipality may

1-22     create a zone if the governing body of the municipality adopts a

1-23     resolution containing:

1-24                 (1)  the determination described by Section 377.002;

 2-1                 (2)  a description of the boundaries of the zone; and

 2-2                 (3)  a finding by the governing body that the creation

 2-3     of the zone benefits and is for the public purpose of increasing

 2-4     the public health, safety, and welfare of the persons in the

 2-5     municipality.

 2-6           (b)  A municipality may create more than one zone and may

 2-7     include an area in more than one zone.

 2-8           Sec. 377.004.  EFFECT OF CREATION OF ZONE.  A municipality

 2-9     that creates a zone may, in the zone:

2-10                 (1)  take any action allowed under this subtitle;

2-11                 (2)  use any power given to a municipality or any other

2-12     political subdivision under this subtitle; and

2-13                 (3)  exercise any other power granted by this chapter.

2-14           Sec. 377.005.  ADDITIONAL POWERS.  A municipality may:

2-15                 (1)  waive or adopt fees related to the construction of

2-16     buildings in the zone, including fees related to the inspection of

2-17     buildings and impact fees;

2-18                 (2)  enter into sales tax refund or abatement

2-19     agreements with persons for the purpose of benefiting the zone; and

2-20                 (3)  enter into property tax abatement agreements with

2-21     persons owning land in the zone.

2-22           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-25     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-26     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-27     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 3-1     passage, and it is so enacted.