BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                              C.S.H.B. 1841

81R34409 PMO-F                                                                                     By: Kleinschmidt (Hegar)

                                                                                                               Intergovernmental Relations

                                                                                                                                            5/21/2009

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, the land located within the boundaries of the proposed XS Ranch Municipal Utility District (district) is undeveloped.

 

C.S.H.B. 1841 creates the district.  The territory of the district will lie outside the corporate limits of any city and partially within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Bastrop, Bastrop County, Texas.  The district will have all of the powers granted to municipal utility districts operating pursuant to Chapters 49 (Provisions Applicable to All Districts) and 54 (Municipal Water Districts), Water Code, with road powers pursuant to Section 52 (Counties, Cities, or Other Political Corporations or Subdivisions; Lending Credit; Grants; Bonds), Article III (Legislative Department), Texas Constitution.  C.S.H.B. 1841 also grants the district the power to divide in order to develop the land as the area grows over the course of the next 15 to 20 years.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 8306, as follows:

 

CHAPTER 8306.  XS RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT

 

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the XS Ranch Municipal Utility District (district) in Bastrop County.  Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

 

Creation and approval of the district (Sections 8306.001-8306.050);

 

Size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors of the district (Sections 8306.051-8306.100);

 

Powers and duties of the district (Sections 8306.101-8306.150); and

 

General financial provisions and authority to impose a tax and to issue bonds and obligations for the district (Sections 8306.151-8306.203).

 

Prohibits the exercise of the power of eminent domain outside the district to acquire a site or easement for a road project under Section 8306.103 or a recreational facility as defined by Section 49.462 (Definitions), Water Code.

 

SECTION 2.  Sets forth the initial boundaries of the district.

 

SECTION 3.  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 are fulfilled and accomplished.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.