BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.J.R. 132

By: Corte

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are many military bases in Texas that provide tremendous economic benefits to the state and the counties and cities in which they are located. These military installations are critical to our national safety and security, and protecting them is of great importance to the state's continued stability. The billions of dollars in payroll and federal investment related to these bases is in danger of being lost due to continued encroachment by development around the military installations and the lack of a clear authority for municipal and county governments to protect the installations from this encroachment. Current law does not provide a method for municipalities or counties to issue bonds or notes to raise revenues needed to acquire buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to military installations that prevent encroachment, or to fund the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure that protect or promote the mission of the military installations.

C.S.H.J.R. 132 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to authorize the legislature by general law to authorize a municipality or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open space adjacent to a military installation to prevent encroachment and to fund the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect and promote the military installations. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.J.R. 132 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to authorize the legislature by general law to authorize a municipality or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation. The resolution authorizes the municipality or county to pledge increases in property tax revenues imposed in the area by the municipality, county, or other political subdivision for repayment of the bonds or notes and sets forth the required language for the ballot.

ELECTION DATE

The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.J.R. 132 differs from the original by authorizing the legislature by general law to authorize a municipality or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of utilities or other infrastructure, in addition to roadways as in the original, to protect or promote the mission of the military installation. The substitute adds a provision not in the original authorizing the municipality or county to pledge increases in property tax revenues imposed in the area by the municipality, county, or other political subdivision for repayment of the bonds or notes. The substitute updates the ballot language to reflect these changes.