By Chavez H.B. No. 2808 77R7894 JMG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation and powers of a North American Free Trade 1-3 Agreement impact zone. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 12, Local Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Chapter 379 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 379. NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPACT ZONE 1-8 Sec. 379.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "zone" means a 1-9 North American Free Trade Agreement impact zone created by a 1-10 municipality under this chapter. 1-11 Sec. 379.002. CREATION OF ZONE. A municipality may create a 1-12 zone covering a part of the municipality if the municipality 1-13 determines the creation of the zone would promote: 1-14 (1) business opportunities for local businesses in the 1-15 zone; 1-16 (2) an increase in economic development in the zone; 1-17 or 1-18 (3) employment opportunities for residents of the 1-19 zone. 1-20 Sec. 379.003. ADOPTION OF ZONE. (a) A municipality may 1-21 create a zone if the governing body of the municipality adopts a 1-22 resolution containing: 1-23 (1) the determination described by Section 379.002; 1-24 (2) a description of the boundaries of the zone; and 2-1 (3) a finding by the governing body that the creation 2-2 of the zone satisfies the requirements of Section 312.202, Tax 2-3 Code. 2-4 (b) A municipality may create more than one zone and may 2-5 include an area in more than one zone. 2-6 Sec. 379.004. ADDITIONAL POWERS. A municipality may: 2-7 (1) waive or adopt fees related to the construction of 2-8 buildings in the zone, including fees related to the inspection of 2-9 buildings and impact fees; 2-10 (2) enter into agreements, for a period of not more 2-11 than 10 years, for the purpose of benefiting the zone, for sales 2-12 tax refunds or abatements of municipal sales tax on sales made in 2-13 the zone; 2-14 (3) enter into agreements abating municipal property 2-15 taxes on property in the zone subject to the duration limits of 2-16 Section 312.204, Tax Code; and 2-17 (4) set baseline performance standards, such as the 2-18 Energy Star Program as developed by the Department of Energy, to 2-19 encourage the use of alternative building materials that address 2-20 concerns relating to the environment or to building costs, 2-21 maintenance, or energy consumption. 2-22 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-23 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-24 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-25 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-26 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.