79R8862 HLT-F

By:  Harper-Brown                                                 H.B. No. 2779



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to municipal authority to impose taxes to repair, upgrade, 
or demolish certain professional sports venues.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 334, Local Government 
Code, is amended by adding Section 334.026 to read as follows:
	Sec. 334.026.  MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE TAXES TO 
IMPROVE OR DEMOLISH CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS VENUES.  (a)  This 
section applies to a municipality that owns a professional sports 
stadium and coliseum that was not constructed and financed as 
provided by this chapter and that is, under agreements in effect on 
the effective date of this section, occupied and used or planned for 
use as the home field of a member team of a professional football 
league for a period of less than 10 years.
	(b)  A municipality may, by ordinance and without holding an 
election, designate the stadium and coliseum as an approved venue 
project.
	(c)  A municipality that has designated the stadium and 
coliseum as an approved venue project under Subsection (b) may 
impose on the project an admissions tax as authorized by Subchapter 
F and a parking tax as authorized by Subchapter G, except that an 
election approving the taxes is not required. The proceeds of the 
taxes may be used to pay for, or to secure bonds or other 
obligations issued to pay for, the costs of repairing, upgrading, 
improving, modifying, or demolishing the stadium or coliseum and 
constructing and equipping a sports and community venue project 
that is authorized by this chapter.
	(d)  A municipality that has designated the stadium and 
coliseum as an approved venue project under Subsection (b) may 
impose one or more of the taxes authorized by Subchapters D, E, H, 
and I if the tax is approved at an election as required by those 
subchapters.  The municipality may use the proceeds of taxes 
imposed under this subsection to pay for, or to secure bonds or 
other obligations issued to pay for, the costs of repairing, 
upgrading, improving, modifying, or demolishing the stadium or 
coliseum, and constructing and equipping a sports and community 
venue project that is authorized by this chapter.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.