78R8945 T

By:  Brown of Kaufman                                             H.B. No. 2835


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the expectation of measurable gain as a result of projects undertaken by corporations created in accordance with the Development Corporation Act of 1979, Article 5190.6 VTCS BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Title 83, Chapter TEN, Article 5190.6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (revised), Section 2, Subsection (11)(A) is amended to read as follows: (A) "Project" shall mean those activities undertaken by a corporation to create a measurable gain and may include the acquisition of the land, buildings, equipment, facilities, targeted infrastructure, and improvements (one or more) to promote new and expanded business development or found by the board of directors to be required or suitable for the promotion of development and expansion of manufacturing and industrial facilities, job creation and retention, job training, educational facilities, research and development facilities, transportation facilities (including but not limited to airports, ports, mass commuting facilities, and parking facilities), sewage or solid waste disposal facilities, recycling facilities, air or water pollution control facilities, facilities for the furnishing of water to the general public, distribution centers, small warehouse facilities capable of serving as decentralized storage and distribution centers, and facilities for use by institutions of higher education, and for the promotion of development or redevelopment and expansion, including costs of administration and operation, of a military base closed or realigned pursuant to recommendation of the Defense Closure and Realignment Commission pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. Section 2687 note) as amended, and of facilities which are related to any of the foregoing, and in furtherance of the public purposes of this Act, all as defined in the rules of the department, irrespective of whether in existence or required to be identified, acquired, or constructed thereafter. "Project" also includes job training required or suitable for the promotion of development and expansion of business enterprises and other enterprises described by this Act, as provided by Section 38 of this Act. SECTION 2. Title 83, Chapter TEN, Article 5190.6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (revised), Section 2, Subsection (11) is amended by adding item (D) to read as follows: (D) "Measurable Gain" shall mean the expected desirable outcome of projects undertaken by a corporation such measurable gain to be documentable with respect to jobs created and/or retained and/or new taxes generated. SECTION 3. Title 83, Chapter TEN, Article 5190.6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (revised), Section 3, Subsection (a)(4) is amended to read as follows: (4) that the means and measures authorized by this Act and the assistance provided in this Act, especially with respect to financing, and providing such means and measures are utilizes with a realistic expectation of rendering a measurable gain, are in the public interest and serve a public purpose of the state in promoting the welfare of the citizens of the state economically by the securing and retaining of business enterprises and the resulting maintenance of a higher level of employment, economic activity, and stability; SECTION 4. Title 83, Chapter TEN, Article 5190.6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (revised), Section 4B, Subsection (a)(2) is amended to read as follows: (2) "Project" means those activities undertaken by a corporation to create a measurable gain and may include the acquisition of land, buildings, equipment, facilities, and improvements included in the definition of that term under Section 2 of this Act, and includes job training as provided by Section 38 of this Act. For purposes of this section, the term includes recycling facilities, and land, buildings, equipment, facilities, and improvements found by the board of directors to: SECTION 5. Title 83, Chapter TEN, Article 5190.6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (revised), Section 4B, Subsection (a)(2)(B) is amended to read as follows: (B) promote or develop new or expanded business enterprises, including a project to provide public safety facilities, streets and roads, drainage and related improvements, demolition of existing structures, general municipally owned improvements, as well as any improvements or facilities that are related to any of those projects and any other project that the board in its discretion determines will render a measurable gain and thereby promotes or develops new or expanded business enterprises; SECTION 6. Title 83, Chapter TEN, Article 5190.6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes (revised), Section 4B, Subsection (a)(2)(E)(a-1) is amended to read as follows: (a-1) A corporation may undertake a project under this section provided the probability exists that such project will produce an measurable gain and unless within 60 days after first publishing notice of a specific project or type of general project the governing body of the city receives a petition from more than 10 percent of the registered voters of the city where the petition requests that an election be held before that specific project or that general type of project is undertaken. An election is not required to be held after the submission of a petition if the qualified citizens of the city have previously approved the undertaking of a specific project or that general type of project at an election called for that purpose by the governing body of the city or in conjunction with another election required to be held under this section. SECTION 7. This act takes effect September 1, 2003.