AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Red River Redevelopment Authority was created by the legislature in 1997 in response to the closure of part of the Red River Army Depot.   The redeveloped site was named the Red River Commerce Park, consisting of 765 acres in Bowie County.  In 2005, the federal Base Realignment and Closure Act resulted in the closure of the Lone Star Ammunition Plant, which resulted in an additional 11,000 acres becoming available for redevelopment.  During the last legislative session, the Red River Commerce Park was "rebranded" as the TexAmericas Center.

 

As the TexAmericas Center statute presently exists, grants or funds from the TexAmericas Center or the state may only be used for the limited purpose of property redevelopment.  S.B. 1879 expands the ability of the TexAmericas Center to partner with the Red River Army Depot, an active military installation adjacent to the center, on projects that will improve the property with the goal of preventing the possible closure or realignment of the base as well as attracting new missions.

 

S.B. 1879 amends current law relating to the powers of the TexAmericas Center.

 

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 3503.003(a), Special District Local Laws Code, as follows:

 

(a) Provides that the TexAmericas Center (authority) is created to:

 

(1)-(2) Makes no change to these subdivisions;

 

(3) Makes a nonsubstantive change;

 

(4) promote or support an active military base located in the same county as the authority to prevent closure or realignment of the base and attract new military missions to the base; and

 

(5) Redesignates existing Subdivision (4) as Subdivision (5) and makes no further change to this subdivision.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 3503.101(b), Special District Local Laws Code, as follows:

 

(b) Authorizes the authority to exercise any power or duty necessary or appropriate to carry out a project described by Section 3503.003(a)(3) (relating to providing that the authority is created to undertake a project the authority's board of directors (board) considers necessary or incidental to certain aspects of new or existing businesses on and for the property) and the purposes of Chapter 3503 (TexAmericas Center), including the power to:

 

(1)-(19) Makes no change to these subdivisions;

(20) exercise the powers Chapter 552 (Municipal Utilities), Local Government Code, rather than Chapter 402 [Redesignated], Local Government Code, grants to a municipality for the provision of municipal utilities;

 

(21)-(23) Makes no change to these subdivisions;

 

(24) Makes a nonsubstantive change;

 

(25) Makes no change to this subdivision; and

 

(26) fund and carry out a project the authority's board of directors determines will promote or support an active military base located in the same county as the authority to prevent closure or realignment of the base and attract new military missions to the base, including a project to create jobs, retain jobs, grant or loan money to a federal entity, make improvements to infrastructure, buildings, or land, or acquire land.

 

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