1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the delegation of responsibility by a municipality for

 1-3     the approval of certain plats.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 212.0065, Local Government Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 212.0065.  DELEGATION OF APPROVAL RESPONSIBILITY.  (a)

 1-8     The governing body of a municipality [A municipality] may delegate

 1-9     to one or more persons [an employee] of the municipality or of a

1-10     utility owned or operated by the municipality the ability to

1-11     approve:

1-12                 (1)  amending plats described by Section 212.016;  or

1-13                 (2)  minor plats involving four or fewer lots fronting

1-14     on an existing street and not requiring the creation of any new

1-15     street or the extension of municipal facilities.

1-16           (b)  The designated person or persons [employee] may, for any

1-17     reason, elect to present the plat for approval to the municipal

1-18     authority responsible for approving plats [planning commission or

1-19     governing body, or both, to approve the plat].

1-20           (c)  The person or persons [employee] shall not disapprove

1-21     the plat and shall be required to refer any plat which the person

1-22     or persons refuse [he refuses] to approve to the municipal

1-23     authority responsible for  approving plats [planning commission or

1-24     governing body, or both,] within the time period specified in

 2-1     Section 212.009.

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

 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1279 was passed by the House on April

         11, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 132, Nays 0, 2 present, not

         voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.

         No. 1279 on May 20, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 0,

         1 present, not voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1279 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 15, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays

         0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor