BILL ANALYSIS
By: Eissler
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Magnolia Woods Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Montgomery, Waller, and Grimes Counties (the “district”) will encompass an area of land outside the extraterritorial jurisdiction and corporate boundaries of any city. The land to be located within the district will be developed into single family residential and commercial development; therefore, water, sewer, drainage and road services need to be secured. It is necessary to create the district under Chapters 49 (Provisions Applicable to All Districts) and 54 (Municipal Utility Districts), Water Code, in order to purchase, acquire, or construct facilities for such services to serve the future occupants of the land utilizing tax exempt bonds. It is also necessary to empower the district with authority to impose a tax and issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain. H.B. 4075 provides regulations regarding the creation, administration, powers, duties, operation, and financing of the district.
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. Adds Chapter 8257 to Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 8257. MAGNOLIA WOODS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 OF MONTGOMERY, WALLER, AND GRIMES COUNTIES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8257.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines “Board,” “Director,” and “District.”
Sec. 8257.002. NATURE OF DISTRICT. Provides that the district is a municipal utility district in Montgomery, Waller, and Grimes Counties created under and essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8257.003. CONFIRMATION ELECTION REQUIRED. Provides that if the creation of the district is not confirmed at a confirmation election held under Section 8257.024 before September 1, 2011, (1) the district is dissolved September 1, 2011, except that the district shall pay any debts incurred, transfer to Montgomery, Waller, and Grimes Counties any assets that remain after the payment of debts, and maintain the organization of the district until all debts are paid and remaining assets are transferred. Provides that this chapter expires September 1, 2014.
Sec. 8257.004. INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. Provides that the district is initially composed of the territory described by Section 2 of the Act creating this chapter. Provides that the boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of the Act creating this chapter form a closure. A mistake made in the field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process does not affect: (1) the organization, existence, or validity of the district; (2) the right of the district to impose taxes; (3) the validity of the district's bonds, notes, or other indebtedness; or (4) the legality or operation of the district or the board.
[Sections 8257.005-8257.020 reserved for expansion]
SUBCHAPTER A-1. TEMPORARY PROVISIONS
Sec. 8257.021. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. Provides that on or after September 1, 2007, a person who owns land in the district may submit a petition to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requesting that the commission appoint as temporary directors the five persons named in the petition. Provides that the commission shall appoint as temporary directors the five persons named in the first petition received by the commission under this Section. Provides that if a temporary director fails to qualify for office, the commission shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy. Provides that temporary directors serve until the earlier of the date directors are elected under Section 8257.024 or the date this chapter expires under Section 8257.003.
Sec. 8257.022. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. Provides that as soon as practicable after all the temporary directors have qualified under Section 49.055, Water Code, the temporary directors shall meet at a location in the district agreeable to a majority of the directors. At the meeting, the temporary directors shall elect officers from among the temporary directors and conduct any other district business.
Sec. 8257.023. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. Provides that the temporary directors may not hold an election under Section 8257.024 until each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located has adopted a resolution consenting to the creation of the district.
Sec. 8257.024. CONFIRMATION AND INITIAL DIRECTORS' ELECTION. Provides that the temporary directors shall hold an election to confirm the creation of the district and to elect five directors as provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
Sec. 8257.025. INITIAL ELECTED DIRECTORS; TERMS. Provides that the directors elected under Section 8257.024 shall draw lots to determine which two shall serve until the first regularly scheduled election of directors and which three shall serve until the second regularly scheduled election of directors.
Sec. 8257.026. EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. Provides that this subchapter expires September 1, 2014.
[Sections 8257.027-8257.050 reserved for expansion]
SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 8257.051. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. Provides that the district is governed by a board of five directors. Provides that directors will serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 8257.052. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Provides that on the uniform election date in May of each even-numbered year, the appropriate number of directors shall be elected.
[Sections 8257.053-8257.100 reserved for expansion]
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 8257.101. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND DUTIES. Provides that the district has the powers and duties provided by the general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8257.102. ROAD PROJECTS. Provides that 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 improvements in aid of those roads, inside the district. Provides that a road project must meet all applicable construction standards, zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulatory ordinances of each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located. Provides that if the district is located outside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, a road project must meet all applicable construction standards, subdivision requirements, and regulatory ordinances of each county in which the district is located.
Sec. 8257.103. DIVISION OF DISTRICT. Provides that the district may be divided into two new districts only if the district has no outstanding bonded debt and is not imposing ad valorem taxes. Provides that the division procedure is prescribed by Sections 53.030 through 53.041, Water Code. Provides that any new district created by the division of the district has all the powers and duties of the district. Provides that any new district created by the division of the district may not, at the time the new district is created, contain any land outside the area described by Section 2 of the Act creating this chapter.
Sec. 8257.104. LIMITATION ON DISTRICT DISSOLUTION. Provides that notwithstanding Section 43.0751, Local Government Code, or any other general law, before December 31, 2017, the district may not be dissolved unless the dissolution is approved by the board and the governing body of each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located. Provides that this section expires December 31, 2017.
Sec. 8257.105. COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS. Provides that the district shall comply with all applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing body of each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located.
Sec. 8257.106. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES; LIMIT ON EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. Provides that in this section, "recreational facilities" and "develop and maintain" have the meanings assigned by Section 49.462, Water Code. Provides that the district may develop and maintain recreational facilities. Provides that the district may not, for the development or maintenance of a recreational facility, acquire by condemnation land, an easement, or other property inside or outside the district.
[Sections 8257.107-8257.150 reserved for expansion]
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8257.151. TAX TO REPAY BONDS. Provides that the district may impose a tax to pay the principal of or interest on bonds or other obligations issued under Section 8257.201.
[Sections 8257.152-8257.200 reserved for expansion]
SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS
Sec. 8257.201. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS. Provides that 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 a project under Section 8257.101, 8257.102, or 8257.106.
Sec. 8257.202. BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Provides that the district may not issue bonds or other obligations to finance projects authorized by Section 8257.102 unless the issuance is approved by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting at an election called for that purpose. Provides that bonds or other obligations issued or incurred to finance projects authorized by Section 8257.102 may not exceed one-fourth of the assessed value of the real property in the district.
Sec. 8257.203. BONDS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. Provides that if authorized at an election under Section 49.4645, Water Code, the district may issue bonds payable from ad valorem taxes to pay for the development and maintenance of recreational facilities in accordance with Subchapter N, Chapter 49, Water Code.
SECTION 2. BOUNDARIES. Sets forth the boundaries of the District.
SECTION 3. FINDINGS RELATED TO PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS. Provides that proper and legal notice setting forth the general substance of this Act has been published as provided by law. Provides that 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. Provides that the Governor has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Provides that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed its recommendations relating to this Act with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives within the required time. Provides that 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 have been fulfilled and accomplished.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.