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.