BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1522

By: Shapleigh

Border & Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Legislation enacted during the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, enabled the City of El Paso to charge property owners for drainage fees.  The fees are used to make improvements designed to reduce flooding and to effectively manage the drainage of storm water.  Current law exempts only the city, universities, and state buildings from paying the fee.  School districts are political subdivisions of the state but are not considered state agencies and therefore not exempt from the drainage fee. School districts need relief from the burden of these fees, which can average several thousand dollars each month. 

S.B. 1522 exempts property owned by school districts located wholly or partly in certain municipalities from drainage charges and all ordinances, resolutions, and rules adopted under provisions relating to municipal drainage utility systems.

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

S.B. 1522 amends the Local Government Code to exempt a property owned by a school district located wholly or partly in a municipality within 50 miles of an international border with a population of more than 500,000 from drainage charges and all ordinances, resolutions, and rules adopted under provisions relating to municipal drainage utility systems.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.