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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to urban renewal authority of municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 374.003(3) and (19), Local Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(3) "Blighted area" means an area that is not a slum |
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area, but that, because of deteriorating buildings, structures, or |
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other improvements; defective or inadequate streets, street |
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layout, or accessibility; unsanitary conditions; abnormally high |
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rates of crime; or other hazardous conditions, adversely affects |
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the public health, safety, morals, or welfare of the municipality |
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and its residents, substantially impairs [retards] the provision of |
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a sound and healthful housing environment, or results in an |
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economic or social liability to the municipality. The term |
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includes an area certified as a disaster area as provided by Section |
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374.903. |
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(19) "Slum area" means an area within a municipality |
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that is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, and |
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welfare of the municipality because the area: |
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(A) has a predominance of buildings or other |
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improvements that are dilapidated, deteriorated, or obsolete due to |
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age or other reasons; |
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(B) is prone to high population densities and |
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overcrowding due to inadequate provision for open space; |
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(C) is composed of open land that, because of its |
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location within municipal limits, is necessary for sound community |
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growth through replatting, planning, and development for |
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predominantly residential uses; or |
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(D) has conditions that exist due to any of the |
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causes enumerated in Paragraphs (A)-(C) or any combination of those |
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causes that: |
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(i) endanger life or property by fire or |
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other causes; or |
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(ii) are conducive to: |
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(a) the ill health of the residents; |
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(b) disease transmission; |
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(c) abnormally high rates of infant |
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mortality; |
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(d) abnormally high rates of juvenile |
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delinquency or [and] crime; or |
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(e) disorderly development because of |
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inadequate or improper platting for adequate residential |
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development of lots, streets, and public utilities. |
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SECTION 2. Section 374.012, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (b) and (e) and adding Subsection |
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(h) to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (h), the [The] |
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governing body of the municipality must order and hold an election |
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in the manner provided by Section 374.011. |
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(e) If the ballot proposition is approved or, if applicable, |
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the resolution under Subsection (h) is approved, the municipality |
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may not exceed the limitations imposed on the project in the |
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resolution ordering the election or, if applicable, approving the |
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project under Subsection (h) with respect to the area, nature, or |
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amount of local funds spent on the project. If the municipality |
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desires to expand the project beyond those limitations, the |
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proposed expansion must be approved at an election in the manner |
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provided for the original project or, if applicable, approved in |
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the manner provided by Subsection (h). |
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(h) The governing body of a municipality with a population |
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of more than 1.9 million may approve the exercise of powers for a |
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specific urban renewal project under this section if the governing |
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body adopts a resolution containing the information that a notice |
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of election must contain under Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |