HBA-MSH H.B. 3194 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3194 By: Howard Natural Resources 7/26/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Levee Improvement Districts (LIDs) are political subdivisions of the state that are created to construct and maintain levees and other improvements along rivers, creeks, and streams and to provide for the proper drainage of reclaimed land. LIDs may buy property, make loans, and issue bonds secured by ad valorem taxation. Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District Number 16 is composed of approximately 2321 acres of property owned by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and is intended to enhance the value of the property before the General Land Office offers it for sale on behalf of TxDOT. House Bill 3194 creates Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District Number 16. 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 3194 creates Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District Number 16 (district) (SECTION 1.01). The bill sets forth provisions regarding the boundaries of the district (SECTION 1.03). The bill provides that the district is governed by a board of three directors (board) appointed by the commissioners court and sets forth provisions regarding the appointment, qualifications, and terms of the directors, as well as the administration and organization of the board (SECTIONS 2.01-2.05). The bill requires the board to appoint a secretary and treasurer and authorizes the board to employ a general manager, consulting engineers, financial consultants, attorneys, and auditors (SECTIONS 2.06 and 2.08). The bill authorizes the district to maintain its principal office in Fort Bend County or Travis County if the district has not issued bonds and requires the district to maintain its principal office in Fort Bend County if the district has issued bonds (SECTION 2.10). The bill sets forth provisions regarding the powers and duties of the district and authorizes the district to adopt and enforce rules to implement the Act (SECTIONS 3.01-3.08). The bill also sets forth provisions regarding civil penalties and injunctions and provides that a person who violates a rule, permit, or order of the district is subject to a civil penalty (SECTION 3.05). The bill sets forth provisions regarding the disbursement of money and authorizes the district to apply for and receive loans or grants (SECTIONS 4.01 and 4.02). The bill authorizes the district to issue bonds, bond anticipation notes, refunding bonds, and other obligations (SECTIONS 5.01-5.03). The bill sets forth provisions regarding the district's tax exemption (SECTION 6.01). EFFECTIVE DATE Vetoed.