BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2200

By: Thompson, Senfronia

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties explain that the Greater Greenspoint Management District of Harris County, while home to a vibrant business community, has a high percentage of unemployment among area residents. Reports indicate that the Houston region as a whole enjoys a low unemployment rate around four percent, while the district's unemployment rate remains around 14 percent. Based on this information, the parties have expressed concerns regarding current law not providing the district authority to undertake workforce development programs. H.B. 2200 seeks to amend current law to address this concern.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2200 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to include among the purposes of the Greater Greenspoint Management District of Harris County the elimination of unemployment and underemployment and the development or expansion of transportation and commerce by providing or by participating with other entities and educational institutions in establishing, equipping, financing, and operating workforce development, workforce education, and job training opportunities. The bill authorizes the district's board of directors by resolution to increase or decrease the number of directors on the board if it is in the best interest of the district to do so and sets the maximum number of directors at 30 and the minimum number of directors at nine. The bill authorizes the district to develop and implement one or more plans for workforce development services and, in implementing a plan for such services, to accept a donation, grant, or loan from any person; to work with a school at any level; to work with any person that provides workforce development money or projects; or to participate with any other entity.

H.B. 2200 authorizes the district to annex land in the manner provided for a general law district by Water Code provisions. The bill requires the board of directors by resolution to establish the number of directors' signatures and the procedure required for a disbursement or transfer of the district's money. The bill authorizes the district to correct, add to, or delete an assessment from its assessment rolls and collect an assessment due under the correction, addition, or deletion without giving the required notice and hearing if the change does not increase the amount of assessment of any parcel of land.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.