79R11588 HLT-D

By:  Howard                                                       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.  VOTER-APPROVED ROAD DISTRICT POWERS.  (a)  If a 
majority of the voters of the district vote in favor of the 
district's assumption of road district powers in the manner 
provided by Section 53.029, Water Code, at an election held for that 
purpose, the district shall assume the rights, authority, 
privileges, and functions of a road district operating under 
Section 52(b)(3), Article III, Texas Constitution, Chapter 257, 
Transportation Code, and other general laws of this state relating 
to road districts.
	(b)  If the voters approve road district powers under 
Subsection (a) of this section, 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 or outside the district.
	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)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) 
and (c) of this section, the district may issue bonds or other 
obligations as provided by Section 53.029, 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.