AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 609 creates Waller County Municipal Utility District No. 17 (district) as a political subdivision of the State of Texas. The district will construct and finance water, sewer, drainage, road, and recreational facilities to serve property within the district, which is located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston, in Waller County. The district will be a municipal utility district operating pursuant to Chapters 49 (Provisions Applicable to All Districts) and 54 (Municipal Utility Districts), Water Code.
As proposed, S.B. 609 amends current law relating to the creation of the Waller County Municipal Utility District No. 17, provides authority to impose a tax and issue bonds, and grants a limited power of eminent domain.
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 Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 8441, as follows:
CHAPTER 8441. WALLER COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 17
Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Waller County Municipal District No. 17 (district) in Waller County. Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:
Creation, purpose, and approval of the district (Sections 8441.001-8441.006);
Size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors, including the appointment of temporary directors (Sections 8441.051-8441.052);
Powers and duties of the district (Sections 8441.101-8441.105); and
General financial provisions and authority to impose a tax and to issue bonds and obligations for the district (Sections 8441.151-8441.203).
SECTION 2. Sets forth the initial boundaries of the district.
SECTION 3. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and the 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. (a) Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 8441, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, if this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house, by adding Section 8441.106, as follows:
Sec. 8441.106. NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.
(b) Provides that this section is not intended to be an expression of a legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c) (relating to authorizing limited eminent domain only on a two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house), Article I, Texas Constitution.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.