BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4197

By: Riddle

Special Purpose Districts

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Pine Forest Municipal Utility District encompasses an area of land within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston and has been inactive in the time since the district was created. Interested parties contend that the law applicable to the district needs to be modified to allow for single-family residential and commercial development and to make that law consistent with current law applicable to other similar districts. H.B. 4197 seeks to address these issues.

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. 4197 amends Chapter 427, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971, to establish provisions relating to the Pine Forest Municipal Utility District. The bill grants the district the power to undertake certain road projects. The bill authorizes the district, subject to certain requirements, to issue obligations and impose property taxes. The bill establishes that the district retains all rights, powers, privileges, authorities, duties, and functions that it had before the bill's effective date.

H.B. 4197 repeals Sections 6, 7, 8, and 9, Chapter 427, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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