79R15417 HLT-D


By:  Howard                                                       H.B. No. 3551

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3551:                                   

By:  Puente                                                   C.S.H.B. No. 3551



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the addition of road district powers to the Fort Bend 
County Municipal Utility District No. 134.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 1342, Acts of the 77th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 2001, is amended by adding Section 3.015 to read as 
follows:
	Sec. 3.015.  ROAD PROJECTS.  (a)  To the extent authorized by 
Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may 
construct, acquire, improve, maintain, or operate macadamized, 
graveled, or paved roads or turnpikes, or improvements in aid of 
those roads or turnpikes, inside the district.
	(b)  A road project must meet all applicable construction 
standards, zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulatory 
ordinances of the municipality or county in whose jurisdiction the 
district is located.
	(c)  The district may not undertake a road project unless 
each municipality or county in whose jurisdiction the district is 
located consents by ordinance or resolution.
	(d)  If the district exercises the power of eminent domain 
for a road project authorized by this section, the district may use 
the power of eminent domain only to acquire land, an easement, or a 
right-of-way inside district boundaries.
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 1342, Acts of the 77th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 2001, is amended by adding Section 5.015 to read as 
follows:
	Sec. 5.015.  AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS 
FOR ROAD PROJECTS; TAX.  (a)  The district may issue bonds or other 
obligations as provided by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to 
finance, or assist in the financing of, projects under Section 
3.015 of this Act.
	(b)  The district may not issue bonds or other obligations 
under Subsection (a) of this section unless the issuance is 
approved by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the voters of the 
district voting at an election called for that purpose.
	(c)  Bonds or other obligations issued or incurred by the 
district under this section may not exceed one-fourth of the 
assessed value of the real property in the district.
	(d)  Sections 49.181 and 49.182, Water Code, do not apply to 
a road project undertaken by the district under Section 3.015 of 
this Act or to bonds issued by the district to finance the project.
	(e)  The district may impose an ad valorem tax to pay the 
principal of or interest on bonds issued under this section.
	SECTION 3.  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.