BILL ANALYSIS
By: Otto
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Development and growth in the area of Liberty County has created the need for permanent improvements such as water production and distribution facilities, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, drainage projects, and other conservation and reclamation projects. Article XVI, Section 59, of the Constitution of Texas provides for the creation of conservation and reclamation districts which are authorized to incur indebtedness to provide such permanent improvements and to levy taxes for the maintenance and operation of such improvements and for the repayment of such indebtedness. Pursuant to Article XVI, Section 59, of the Constitution of Texas, and subject to the continuing supervisory jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, H.B. 2782 creates a conservation and reclamation district to be known as Liberty County Municipal Utility District No. 5, over land to be developed as a residential community with related retail and commercial properties in Liberty County.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1: Amends Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 8185 analyzed as follows:
Subchapter A. General Provisions:
Sec. 8185.001: Defines "Board," “Director” and “District.”
Sec. 8185.002: Establishes the district as a municipal utility district created under and essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8185.003: Provides that if the creation of the district is not confirmed at an election within the district before September 1, 2012, the district will dissolve on that date, provides for payment of all debts incurred in such case, provides for transfer of remaining assets to Liberty County in such case, provides for maintenance of district organization until debts are paid and assets are transferred, and states that this chapter expires September 1, 2015.
Sec. 8185.004: Affirms that all land in the district will benefit from the works and projects to be accomplished by the district, and that the district will serve a public purpose.
Sec. 8185.005: Determines that the boundaries and field notes of the district form a closure and provides for mistakes in such field notes.
Sec. 8185.006 – 8185.020: Reserved for expansion.
Subchapter A1. Temporary Provisions:
Sec. 8185.021: Provides for the appointment of temporary directors by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the qualification of temporary directors, the filling of vacancies, and the term of temporary directors.
Sec. 8185.022: Provides for an organizational meeting of the temporary directors to elect officers and conduct any other district business.
Sec. 8185.023: Requires a confirmation and directors’ election.
Sec. 8185.024: Establishes the procedure for determining the terms of the initial elected directors.
Sec. 8185.025: Provides for the postponement of the first regularly scheduled election of directors in certain circumstances.
Sec. 8185.026: Establishes an expiration date of September 1, 2015 for this subchapter.
Sec. 8185.027 – 8185.050: Reserved for expansion.
Subchapter B. Board of Directors:
Sec. 8185.051: Establishes that the board is composed of five directors serving staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 8185.052: Establishes the date for director elections.
Sec. 8185.053 – Sec. 8185.100: Reserved for expansion.
Subchapter C. Powers and Duties:
Sec. 8185.101: Provides that the district shall have and exercise all rights and powers conferred by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, except as otherwise provided by this chapter.
Sec. 8185.102: Prohibits the imposition of impact fees or assessments on the property, equipment, rights-of-way, facilities, or improvements of certain utilities.
Sec. 8185.103: Requires, subject to the limitations of Section 54.016, Water Code, that the district comply with all applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution adopted by any municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located, relating to the consent to the creation of or the inclusion of land within the district.
SECTION 2: Describes the territory to be contained within the district.
SECTION 3: Finds that all of the requirements for introduction and passage of this Act
have been fulfilled.
SECTION 4: Effective Date: September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.