BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1916

By: Watson

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current Texas law provides for the creation of conservation and reclamation districts which are, subject to voter approval, authorized to incur debt to provide permanent improvements and to levy taxes for the maintenance and operation of improvements and for the repayment of debt.

S.B. 1916 proposes to create a conservation and reclamation district to be known as Southeast Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 4 (district), over land in Travis County, Texas.

S.B. 1916 amends current law relating to the creation of the Southeast Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 4 and provides authority to 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 F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 8385, as follows:

CHAPTER 8385. SOUTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 4

Sets forth language for the creation of the Southeast Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 4 (district) in Travis County.  Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

Definitions, nature of district, confirmation and directors' election, consent of municipality, findings of public purpose and benefit, and initial district territory (Sections 8385.001-8385.050);

Size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors of the district (Sections 8385.051-8385.100);

Powers and duties of the district; authority for road projects; approval of road project; compliance with and enforceability of municipal consent agreement, ordinance, or resolution; and contract to further regional cooperation (Sections 8385.101-8385.150);

General financial provisions, elections regarding taxes or bonds, operation and maintenance tax, contract taxes, authority to issue bonds and other obligations, taxes for bonds and bonds for road projects (Sections 8385.151-8385.250); and

Strategic partnership agreement; municipal annexation notice; and continuation of district after annexation by municipality (Sections 8385.251-8385.252).

Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain outside the district to acquire a site or easement for a road project authorized by Section 8385.103 (Authority for Road Projects) or a recreational facility as defined by Section 49.462 (Definitions), Water Code.

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 are fulfilled and accomplished.

SECTION 4.  Provides for the effective date of this Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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, 2011.