BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3186

By: Farney

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, certain municipal development districts have had difficulty filling positions on the board of directors of the district because qualified candidates who live just outside the district's jurisdiction are ineligible to serve under the current qualifications for directors. In addition, the parties report that the districts want to engage in development projects that are inside the county in which the district is located. H.B. 3186 seeks to address these local priorities.

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. 3186 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a person to qualify for service as a director of a municipal development district that is located in a municipality with a population of more than 5,000 and less than 6,000 and that is located wholly in a county with a population of more than 20,000 and less than 25,000 and that borders the Brazos River if the person resides in the independent school district that serves the majority of the district.

H.B. 3186 limits use of money in a development project fund by a municipal development district located in a municipality with a population of more than 5,000 and less than 6,000 and that is located wholly in a county with a population of more than 20,000 and less than 25,000 and that borders the Brazos River only to pay the costs of planning, acquiring, establishing, developing, constructing, or renovating one or more development projects inside the county in which the district is located, if the project meets certain criteria; to pay the principal of, interest on, and other costs relating to bonds or other obligations issued by the district or to refund bonds or other obligations; or to pay the costs of operating or maintaining one or more development projects during the planning, acquisition, establishment, development, construction, or renovation or while bonds or other obligations for the planning, acquisition, establishment, development, construction, or renovation are outstanding.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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