BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1882

By: Patrick

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, there is underdeveloped land located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston in Harris County.  A management district over this property is proposed to be created to administer and provide public infrastructure as well as economic development projects and services in the district.

S.B.1882 creates Harris County Management District No. 22 (district) as a political subdivision of the State of Texas to accomplish the public infrastructure and economic development purposes of the district.  The district will be a municipal management district similar to those operating pursuant to Chapter 375 (Municipal Management Districts in General), Local Government Code, and Title 4 (Development and Improvement), Special Districts Local Law Code.

A special district is needed to finance and construct the utility infrastructure necessary to promote the development of the area within the district and to provide services to property in the district.  Currently, there is no law, as special districts are created for specific areas.  Furthermore, there is no law creating this district.

S.B.1882 amends current law relating to the creation of Harris County Improvement District No. 22 and provides authority to levy an assessment, impose a tax, and issue bonds. 

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

SECTION 1.  Amends Subtitle C, Title 4, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 3904, as follows: CHAPTER 3904.  HARRIS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO.22

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Harris County Improvement District No. 22 (district) in Harris County.  Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for: general provisions of the district (Sections 3904.001-3904.050); size, composition, appointment procedure, and terms of the board of directors of the district (Sections 3904.051-3904.100); powers and duties of the district (Sections 3904.101-3904.150); general financial provisions; assessments (Sections 3904.151-3904.200); taxes and bonds; authority to impose taxes, borrow money, and issue bonds (Sections 3904.201-3904.250); authority to establish defined areas (Sections 3904.251-3904.300); and municipal annexation and dissolution (Section 3904.301).   Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

SECTION 2.  Sets forth the initial boundaries of the district.

SECTION 3.  Provides that all requirements of the constitution and laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act have been fulfilled and accomplished.

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.