AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Governmental entities such as cities, counties, and appraisal districts have invested heavily in the development of geographic information systems (GIS) that enhance essential functions such as land use analysis, accurate tax parcel creation, public infrastructure maintenance, E-911 addressing, and the rapid delivery of emergency services. While these systems are a great asset to local communities, the rapid growth and development of certain areas of the state may outpace the staffing capacities of those assigned with the maintenance and input of new digital data into these systems. Requiring land developers to submit locally compatible digital maps with geo-referencing would lessen the comparable burden on local governmental entities.
C.S.S.B. 1454, therefore, grants counties the authority to require land developers to submit locally compatible digital maps with geo-referencing of approved subdivision plats and related infrastructure as part of the subdivision approval and recording process. What's more, the bill requires a digital map to be in a format widely used by common GIS software. Finally, the bill provides an exemption from the requirement if the owner of the tract submits with the plat application an acknowledged statement indicating that the digital mapping technology necessary to submit a map was not reasonably accessible.
C.S.S.B. 1454 amends current law relating to authorizing counties to require the submission of digital maps in connection with the county plat approval process.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 232.001, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (f), as follows:
(f) Authorizes the commissioners court to require a plat application submitted for approval to include a digital map that is compatible with other mapping systems used by the county and that georeferences approved subdivision plats and related infrastructure. Authorizes a digital map required under this subsection to be required only in a format widely used by common geographic information system software. Requires that a requirement adopted under this subsection provide for an exemption from the requirement if the owner of the tract submits with the plat application an acknowledged statement indicating that the digital mapping technology necessary to submit a map that complies with this subsection was not reasonably accessible.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 232.023, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (f), as follows:
(f) Authorize the commissioners court to require a plat application submitted for approval to include a digital map that is compatible with other mapping systems used by the county and that georeferences approved subdivision plats and related infrastructure. Authorizes a digital map required under this subsection to be required only in a format widely used by common geographic information system software. Requires that a requirement adopted under this subsection provide for an exemption from the requirement if the owner of the tract submits with the plat application an acknowledged statement indicating that the digital mapping technology necessary to submit a map that complies with this subsection was not reasonably accessible.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 232.072, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (d), as follows:
(d) Authorize the commissioners court to require a plat application submitted for approval to include a digital map that is compatible with other mapping systems used by the county and that georeferences approved subdivision plats and related infrastructure. Authorizes a digital map required under this subsection to be required only in a format widely used by common geographic information system software. Requires that a requirement adopted under this subsection provide for an exemption from the requirement if the owner of the tract submits with the plat application an acknowledged statement indicating that the digital mapping technology necessary to submit a map that complies with this subsection was not reasonably accessible.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2015.