| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to venue projects in certain municipalities. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 334, Local Government |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 334.009 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 334.009. VENUE PROJECTS IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES. |
|
|
(a) This section applies only to a municipality that has a |
|
|
population of at least 176,000, that borders the Rio Grande, and |
|
|
that approved a sports and community venue project before January |
|
|
1, 2009. |
|
|
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, including Section |
|
|
334.089, after complying with Section 334.022, a municipality to |
|
|
which this section applies may hold an election under Section |
|
|
334.024 on the question of approving and implementing a resolution |
|
|
to: |
|
|
(1) authorize the municipality to plan, acquire, |
|
|
establish, develop, construct, or renovate a convention center and |
|
|
related infrastructure in the city limits of the municipality as |
|
|
part of an existing or previously approved sports and community |
|
|
venue project, regardless of whether the convention center is |
|
|
located on the premises of the existing or previously approved |
|
|
venue project; |
|
|
(2) impose a tax under Subchapter H at a rate not to |
|
|
exceed two percent of the cost of a room; and |
|
|
(3) authorize the municipality to finance, operate, |
|
|
and maintain the venue project described by Subdivision (1), |
|
|
including the convention center, using the revenue from any taxes |
|
|
imposed by the municipality under this chapter, including taxes |
|
|
previously approved in relation to the existing or previously |
|
|
approved venue project. |
|
|
(c) If the resolution is approved by a majority of the votes |
|
|
cast in the election, the municipality may implement the |
|
|
resolution. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |