SRC-AXB H.B. 1618 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1618 76R8530 CMR-DBy: Keel (Wentworth) Education 5/11/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Before 1997, there was no provision which allowed Texas communities to tax themselves to support a library through the creation of a library district. The 75th Legislature passed a law which authorizes a county of 100,000 or more people, which has no library, to create a library district. H.B. 1618 clarifies and simplifies the process of creating a library district by decreasing the minimum population requirement and making statutory changes regarding boundaries. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1618 clarifies and simplifies the process of creating a library district by decreasing the minimum population requirement and making statutory changes regarding boundaries. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 326.004(a), Local Government Code, to delete text specifying a minimum population requirement for a library district. SECTION 2. Amends Sections 326.022(a) and (c), Local Government Code, to authorize a library district to include any contiguous territory within a single county. Requires the governing authority of a municipality which operates library, to consent by resolution to allow the inclusion of that municipal territory in the proposed library district boundaries. Deletes text regarding an election and multiple territories. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.