By:  Jackson                                                      S.B. No. 1864


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the powers of the Galveston County Municipal Utility 
District No. 51, including powers related to the construction, 
maintenance, operation, and financing of roads or turnpikes; 
providing the authority to impose taxes and issue bonds.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws 
Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8130 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 8130.  GALVESTON COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY

DISTRICT NO. 51

SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
	Sec. 8130.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "district" 
means the Galveston County Municipal Utility District No. 51.
	Sec. 8130.002.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a 
municipal utility district in Galveston County created under and 
essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, 
Texas Constitution.
	Sec. 8130.003.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW.  Except as 
otherwise provided by this chapter, the following laws apply to the 
district:
		(1)  Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, including 
Subchapter J, Chapter 54, Water Code, notwithstanding the 
limitation on authorization based on acreage under Section 54.801 
of that code; and
		(2)  Section 52(b)(3), Article III, Texas 
Constitution.              

[Sections 8130.004-8130.050 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER B.  POWERS AND DUTIES
	Sec. 8130.051.  ROAD PROJECTS.  The district may provide for 
the construction, maintenance, and operation of macadamized, 
graveled, or paved roads or turnpikes, or works, facilities, or 
improvements in aid of those roads or turnpikes, inside or outside 
the district to the extent authorized by Section 52, Article III, 
Texas Constitution.

[Sections 8130.052-8130.100 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER C.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
	Sec. 8130.101.  TAX TO REPAY BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS.  The 
district may impose a tax to pay the principal of or interest on 
bonds issued under Section 8130.151.

[Sections 8130.102-8130.150 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER D.  BONDS
	Sec. 8130.151.  AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS.  
(a)  The district may issue bonds or other obligations as provided 
by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to finance the construction, 
maintenance, or operation of projects under Section 8130.051.
	(b)  The district may not issue bonds or other obligations 
secured in whole or in part by ad valorem taxation to finance 
projects authorized by Section 8130.051 unless the issuance is 
approved by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the voters of the 
district or of the defined area to be benefited by the project as 
provided by Subchapter J, Chapter 54, Water Code, voting at an 
election called for that purpose.  The simple majority vote 
approval required by Section 54.808(a), Water Code, does not apply 
to an election under this subsection.
	(c)  Bonds or other obligations issued or incurred to finance 
projects authorized by Section 8130.051 may not exceed one-fourth 
of the assessed value of the real property in the district or the 
defined area, as applicable.
	(d)  Sections 49.181, 49.182, and 50.107, Water Code, do not 
apply to a project undertaken by the district under Section 
8130.051 or to bonds issued by the district to finance the project.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The legal notice of the intention to 
introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this 
Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a 
copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies, 
officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished 
under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313, 
Government Code.
	(b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has 
submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality.
	(c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed 
its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the 
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of 
representatives within the required time.
	(d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this 
state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect 
to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled 
and accomplished.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.