HBA-CMT H.B. 3172 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3172 By: Thompson County Affairs 7/26/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, municipalities have the statutory authority to create public improvement districts that make assessments for roads, drainage, and improvements. Many counties were experiencing high growth in unincorporated areas where residents could benefit from public improvement districts. House Bill 3172 gives counties the authority to create public improvement districts in the same manner as municipalities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3172 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a county to create improvement districts in the same manner as municipalities. Existing law governing public improvement districts in municipalities now also governs public improvement districts in counties. The bill authorizes a county to establish a public improvement district unless within 30 days of a county's action to approve such a district, a home rule municipality objects to its establishment within the municipality's corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction. The bill sets forth that an assessment plan must be included in the annual service plan of the improvement district. The bill requires that delinquent installments of the property assessments on property in the improvement district incur interest, penalties, and attorney's fees in the same manner as delinquent ad valorem taxes. EFFECTIVE DATE June 16, 2001.