BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
It has been widely reported that Fort Bend County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas and that the demand for higher education there continues to grow. The parties report that the University of Houston System needs additional space to build and expand facilities at its Sugar Land campus and that the Texas Department of Transportation currently holds unused surplus land that is adjacent to the campus. The parties contend that this land is the ideal location for an academic building that would allow the campus to add much-needed programs. H.B. 1982 seeks to enhance economic growth in Fort Bend County, benefit the public interest of the state, and provide additional facilities for higher education at the University of Houston Sugar Land campus.
H.B. 1982 amends current law relating to the transfer of certain state property from the Texas Department of Transportation to the University of Houston.
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. (a) Defines, in this section, "utility infrastructure" to include any facility owned by an electric or gas utility, as defined by Section 31.002, 101.003, or 121.001, Utilities Code.
(b) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), as soon as practicable after obtaining the necessary federal approval, to donate and transfer to the University of Houston the real property described by Subsection (f) of this section.
(c) Authorizes the University of Houston to use the property transferred under this Act only for a purpose that benefits the public interest of the state. Provides that, if the University of Houston uses the property for any purpose other than a purpose described by this subsection, ownership of the property automatically reverts to TxDOT.
(d) Requires TxDOT to transfer the property by an appropriate instrument of transfer. Requires that the instrument of transfer:
(1) provide that:
(A) the University of Houston may use the property only for a purpose that benefits the public interest of the state;
(B) ownership of the property will automatically revert to TxDOT if the University of Houston uses the property for any purpose other than a purpose described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision;
(C) if a relocation of utility infrastructure located within the property is requested, the relocation costs are paid by the requesting party; and
(D) the property is subject to an easement created for all existing utility infrastructure located within the property; and
(2) describe the property to be transferred by metes and bounds.
(e) Requires TxDOT to retain custody of the instrument of transfer after the instrument of transfer is filed in the real property records of Fort Bend County.
(f) Provides that the real property referred to in this section consists of the three certain tracts of land as set forth.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.