81R8875 NC-D
 
  By: Watson S.B. No. 2023
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the dissolution of certain municipal utility districts
  that are located in more than one municipality.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 43, Local Government Code,
  is amended by adding Section 43.0741 to read as follows:
         Sec. 43.0741.  ABOLITION AND ASSUMPTION OF FUNCTIONS OF
  MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE MUNICIPALITY.  
  (a)  This section applies only to a home-rule municipality with a
  population of less than 20,000:
               (1)  in which is located part of a municipal utility
  district organized for the primary purpose of providing municipal
  functions such as supplying fresh water for domestic or commercial
  uses or furnishing sanitary sewer service; and
               (2)  the governing body of which adopts, by a majority
  vote of its entire membership, an ordinance under Subsection (e).
         (b)  This section applies only if:
               (1)  the municipal utility district described by
  Subsection (a)(1) has territory located in more than one
  municipality;
               (2)  at least 80 percent of the territory of the
  municipal utility district is located in the corporate limits and
  extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality described by
  Subsection (a); and
               (3)  no more than 100 retail customers of the municipal
  utility district are located outside the corporate limits of the
  municipality described by Subsection (a).
         (c)  The governing body of a municipality may not adopt an
  ordinance described by Subsection (e) until the municipality:
               (1)  prepares a report estimating the cost to provide
  water and wastewater service to the municipal utility district's
  customers, including an analysis of:
                     (A)  the effect the elimination of the municipal
  utility district tax would have on the revenues required to operate
  and maintain the water and wastewater system and services;
                     (B)  the manner in which the municipal utility
  district's tax revenue would be replaced;
                     (C)  whether tax revenue is required for the
  provision of service; and
                     (D)  the effect the elimination of the municipal
  utility district tax would have on the fees and charges paid by the
  water and sewer customers of the district;
               (2)  on completion of the report described by
  Subdivision (1), posts the report on the municipality's Internet
  website; and
               (3)  on or before the 15th day before the date the
  governing body considers an ordinance described by Subsection (e),
  holds a public hearing regarding the report described by
  Subdivision (1) at which any member of the public is allowed to
  appear to present evidence or comments regarding the report.
         (d)  On or before the 10th day before the date of the public
  hearing under Subsection (c)(3), the governing body of the
  municipality must publish notice of the hearing, including the
  date, time, and location of the hearing, in a newspaper of general
  circulation in the municipality and mail notice of the hearing to
  the president or general manager of the municipal utility district.
         (e)  The governing body of a municipality may adopt an
  ordinance that provides a date on which the municipality will:
               (1)  take over all the property and other assets of the
  municipal utility district described by Subsection (a)(1);
               (2)  assume all the debts, liabilities, and obligations
  of the municipal utility district described by Subsection (a)(1);
  and
               (3)  perform all the functions of the municipal utility
  district described by Subsection (a)(1), including the provision of
  services.
         (f)  After the adoption of an ordinance described by
  Subsection (e) and on the date provided in the ordinance, the
  municipal utility district is abolished and the municipality
  succeeds to the powers, duties, assets, and obligations of the
  municipal utility district as provided by this section.
         (g)  Nothing in this section requires a municipality to annex
  any territory of the municipal utility district that is located
  outside the corporate limits of the municipality for the
  municipality to assume the responsibilities, obligations, and
  assets of the municipal utility district as provided by this
  section. If the municipality proposes to annex any of the municipal
  utility district territory outside the corporate limits of the
  municipality:
               (1)  the annexation provisions of Subchapter C apply;
  and
               (2)  the municipality shall provide notice in the
  manner provided by Section 43.052(f) to each affected customer that
  includes a cost-of-service analysis and discloses any potential
  rate and tax implications that would result from the annexation.
         (h)  For the areas in the municipal utility district that are
  located outside the corporate limits or extraterritorial
  jurisdiction of a municipality and in which the district has
  facilities or customers, the municipality, on the date it assumes
  the functions of the municipal utility district, shall continue to
  provide services to those customers at the same level of service
  provided to the customers located inside the corporate limits of
  the municipality. The municipality may enter into an interlocal
  agreement with another political subdivision for the other
  political subdivision to provide services to customers and to
  maintain facilities not located inside the corporate limits or
  extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality.
         (i)  If the municipal utility district has outstanding
  bonds, warrants, or other obligations, the municipality shall
  assume those liabilities in accordance with this subsection. The
  governing body of the municipality may issue refunding bonds or
  warrants in its own name to refund the municipal utility district's
  outstanding bonds, warrants, or other obligations, including
  unpaid earned interest on the obligation, that are assumed by the
  municipality. The municipality may pledge the net revenues or
  property of the utility system or municipal property taxes to the
  payment of the outstanding bonds, warrants, or other obligations
  and refunding bonds or warrants as the governing body considers
  proper.
         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.