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.