BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 3202

By: Bonnen

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

There are approximately 332 acres of land currently owned by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in Brazoria County, near the Brazoria County Airport, that the county needs as a result of the development of the area.  The land in question is needed by Brazoria County for a number of reasons.  First, a preliminary analysis has shown that a large and shallow detention pond is needed for anticipated growth on the existing airport property in order to ensure that the area drains properly.  Second, this property is needed to enable the airport to grow and serve the aviation needs of South Brazoria County including Lake Jackson, Angleton, and the coastal area and associated industries.  Industry already uses the airport and continued development of the industrial base along with additions of new industry will require more area to handle the related aviation needs of these businesses.  Finally, this parcel of land will serve to connect the airport to a newly developed commercial and residential area to the south.  This transfer will allow the airport to enhance its very basic water and sewer services for the airport and its tenants by facilitating a connection to City of Lake Jackson water and sewer infrastructure.

 

H.B. 3202 requires TDCJ to transfer approximately 332 acres to Brazoria County.  The land must be used by Brazoria County in a manner that primarily promotes a public purpose that benefits the public interest of the state, or the property reverts to TDCJ.

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

 

H.B. 3202 requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to transfer to Brazoria County the real property specified in the bill not later than January 1, 2010. The bill requires consideration for the transfer to be in the form of an agreement between the parties that requires Brazoria County to use the property in a manner that primarily promotes a public purpose that benefits the public interest of the state. The bill specifies that  if Brazoria County fails to use the property in the manner described by the agreement for more than 180 continuous days, ownership of the property automatically reverts to TDCJ.

 

H.B. 3202 requires TDCJ to transfer the property to Brazoria County by an appropriate instrument of transfer, which must include certain information.

 

H.B. 3202 describes the area and boundaries of the property to be transferred from TDCJ to Brazoria County.

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2009.