H.B. 655 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 655
By: Menendez
Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, when a political subdivision wishes to sell or exchange
land that they own, it must first notify citizens by publishing, on at
least two occasions, a notice in a newspaper of general circulation that
it intends to sell the land.  The notice must provide a description of the
land and the procedure detailing the sealed bid process.  The law also
requires that the land be appraised and prohibits the political
subdivision from selling, conveying or exchanging the property for less
than the fair market value (appraised value).   

It would be advantageous for property owned by a defense base development
authority to be exempted from the notice and bidding requirements in order
to attract a particular use or industry that integrates into its master
redevelopment plan.  Much of the base redevelopment opportunities must be
acted upon quickly in order to compete with alternative private markets.
HB 655  exempts base development authorities from the notice and bidding
requirements to allow the communities to respond immediately to their
development  needs and to execute business deals in a timely manner. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 


ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Exempts a defense base development authority from the notice
and bidding requirements of Section 272.001 (a), Local Government Code. 

SECTION  2.  This Act takes effect on September 1, 2003, unless it
receives the votes necessary for immediate effect.