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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of certain economic development |
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corporations to undertake and operate transportation-related |
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projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 377, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 377.075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 377.075. AIRPORT FACILITIES OR OTHER PROJECTS BY |
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CORPORATIONS CREATED IN CERTAIN BORDER MUNICIPALITIES. (a) This |
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section applies only to a district created in the jurisdiction of a |
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municipality, any part of which is located within 25 miles of an |
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international border. |
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(b) For a district to which this section applies, |
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"development project" includes the land, buildings, facilities, |
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infrastructure, and improvements that: |
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(1) the board finds are required or suitable for the |
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development or promotion of new or expanded business enterprises |
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through transportation facilities including airports, hangars, |
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railports, rail switching facilities, maintenance and repair |
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facilities, cargo facilities, marine ports, inland ports, mass |
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commuting facilities, parking facilities, and related |
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infrastructure located on or adjacent to an airport or railport |
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facility; or |
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(2) are undertaken by the district if the |
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municipality, the jurisdiction of which the district is located in, |
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has, at the time the board approves the project: |
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(A) a population of less than 50,000; or |
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(B) an average rate of unemployment that is |
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greater than the state average rate of unemployment during the most |
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recent 12-month period for which data is available that precedes |
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the date the project is approved. |
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(c) The district may own and operate as a business a project |
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authorized by this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 501.106(b), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) For a corporation to which this section applies, in this |
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subtitle, "project" includes the land, buildings, facilities, |
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infrastructure, and improvements that: |
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(1) the corporation's board of directors finds are |
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required or suitable for the development or promotion of new or |
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expanded business enterprises through transportation facilities |
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including airports, hangars, railports, rail switching facilities, |
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maintenance and repair facilities, cargo facilities, marine ports, |
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inland ports, mass commuting facilities, parking facilities, and |
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related infrastructure located on or adjacent to an airport or |
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railport facility [expansion of airport facilities]; or |
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(2) are undertaken by the corporation if the |
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municipality that authorized the creation of the corporation has, |
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at the time the corporation approves the project as provided by this |
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subtitle: |
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(A) a population of less than 50,000; or |
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(B) an average rate of unemployment that is |
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greater than the state average rate of unemployment during the most |
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recent 12-month period for which data is available that precedes |
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the date the project is approved. |
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SECTION 3. Section 501.160(d), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) A corporation has all the powers necessary to own and |
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operate a project as a business if: |
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(1) the project is a military installation or military |
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facility that has been closed or realigned, including a military |
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installation or facility closed or realigned under the Defense Base |
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Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. Section 2687 note), |
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as amended; or |
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(2) the project is authorized under Section 501.106. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |