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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creation and duties of a county economic development |
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district. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Heading of Chapter 383 of Title 12 of the Local |
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Government Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 383. COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS. |
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SECTION 2. Section 383.001, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 383.002. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. This chapter furthers |
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the public purpose of developing and diversifying the economy of |
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this state by providing incentives for the location and development |
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of projects in certain counties to promote economic development and |
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to attract visitors and tourists. |
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SECTION 3. Section 383.003, Local Government Code, amends |
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Subsections (a) and (c) to read as follows: |
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Sec. 383.003. FINDINGS. (a) Small and medium-sized
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Counties in this state need incentives for the development of |
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public improvements and projects to promote economic development |
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and to attract visitors and tourists to those counties, and those |
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counties are at a disadvantage in competing with counties in other |
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states for the location and development of projects that attract |
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visitors by virtue of the availability and prevalent use of |
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financial incentives in other states. |
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(c) The creation of economic development districts is |
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essential to the accomplishment of Section 52-a, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution, and to the accomplishment of the other public |
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purposes stated in this chapter and further serves the purpose of |
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Section 59, Article XVI, and Section 52, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. |
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SECTION 4. Section 383.021, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 383.021. COUNTIES AUTHORIZED TO CREATE DISTRICTS. |
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(a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of
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400,000 or less, on petition of the owners of land in a proposed |
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district, may commence the creation of a county economic |
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development district. |
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SECTION 5. Section 383.023(2), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(2) include a name for the proposed district, which |
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must include the name of the county followed by the words "Economic |
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Development District No.______";. |
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SECTION 6. Section 383.033(b), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or |
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against the proposition: "The creation of ____________ County |
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Economic Development District No. _____ and the adoption of a |
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proposed local sales and use tax rate of _____ (the rate specified |
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in the election order) to be used for the promotion and development |
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of tourism and economic development." |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |