AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires that a defense base development authority undergo a process of establishing reinvestment zones within its boundaries.  H.B. 3066 makes changes to Chapter 2303 (Enterprise Zones), Government Code, to add the land within the boundaries of a defense base development authority to the list of areas that automatically qualify as an enterprise zone.

 

Until recently, a provision in Section 2303.101 (Qualifications for Enterprise Zone Designation), Government Code, automatically qualified a defense base as an enterprise zone by reference to federal laws designating federal empowerment zones and federal enterprise communities.  The federal law has expired.  H.B. 3066 updates this reference to federal law with a direct reference to authorities created under state law to redevelop these closed bases.

 

H.B. 3066 allows defense base development authorities to be an effective tool for economic development by adding the land within an authority’s boundaries to the list of areas that automatically qualify as an enterprise zone for purposes of the enterprise zone program.

 

H.B. 3066 amends current law relating to the qualification of an area inside a base defense authority as an enterprise zone.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2303.101, Government Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 2303.101. QUALIFICATION FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATION. Provides that an area automatically qualifies for designation as an enterprise zone if the area is:

 

(1) Makes no change to this subdivision;

 

(2)-(3) Makes nonsubstantive changes; or

 

(4) an area inside the boundaries of a defense base development authority established under Chapter 379B (Defense Base Development Authorities), Local Government Code.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.