84R19296 PAM-F
 
  By: Keffer, Workman H.B. No. 3187
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3187:
 
  By:  Ashby C.S.H.B. No. 3187
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to assessments for water and energy improvements in
  municipalities and counties; changing a fee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 399.003, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 399.003.  EXERCISE OF POWERS. (a) In addition to the
  authority provided by Chapter 376 for municipalities, the governing
  body of a local government that establishes a program in accordance
  with the requirements provided by Section 399.008 may exercise
  powers granted under this chapter.
         (b)  The establishment and operation of a program under this
  chapter by a local government is a governmental function for all
  purposes.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 399.006(b) and (c), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An authorized representative [official] of the local
  government that establishes a program may enter into a written
  contract with a record owner of real property in a region designated
  under this chapter to impose an assessment to repay the owner's
  financing of a qualified project on the owner's property.  The
  financing to be repaid through assessments may be provided by a
  third party or, if authorized by the program, by the local
  government.
         (c)  If the program provides for third-party financing, the
  authorized representative [official] of the local government that
  enters into a written contract with a property owner under
  Subsection (b) must also enter into a written contract with the
  party that provides financing for a qualified project under the
  program to service the debt through assessments.
         SECTION 3.  Section 399.007(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The governing body of a local government may determine
  that it is convenient and advantageous to designate an area of the
  local government as a region within which the authorized
  representative of the local government [officials] and record
  owners of real property may enter into written contracts to impose
  assessments to repay the financing by owners of qualified projects
  on the owners' property and, if authorized by the local government
  program, finance the qualified project.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 399.008(a) and (e), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To establish a program under this chapter, the governing
  body of a local government must take the following actions in the
  following order:
               (1)  adopt a resolution of intent that includes:
                     (A)  a finding that, if appropriate, financing
  qualified projects through contractual assessments is a valid
  public purpose;
                     (B)  a statement that the local government intends
  to make contractual assessments to repay financing for qualified
  projects available to property owners;
                     (C)  a description of the types of qualified
  projects that may be subject to contractual assessments;
                     (D)  a description of the boundaries of the
  region;
                     (E)  a description of any proposed arrangements
  for third-party financing to be available or any local government
  financing to be provided for qualified projects;
                     (F)  a description of local government debt
  servicing procedures if third-party financing will be provided and
  assessments will be collected to service a third-party debt;
                     (G)  a reference to the report on the proposed
  program prepared as provided by Section 399.009 and a statement
  identifying the location where the report is available for public
  inspection;
                     (H)  a statement of the time and place for a public
  hearing on the proposed program; and
                     (I)  a statement identifying the appropriate
  representative of the local government [official] and the
  appropriate assessor-collector for purposes of consulting
  regarding collecting the proposed contractual assessments [with
  property taxes] imposed on the assessed property;
               (2)  hold a public hearing at which the public may
  comment on the proposed program, including the report required by
  Section 399.009; and
               (3)  adopt a resolution establishing the program and
  the terms of the program, including:
                     (A)  each item included in the report under
  Section 399.009; and
                     (B)  a description of each aspect of the program
  that may be amended only after another public hearing is held.
         (e)  A local government may impose fees to offset the costs
  of administering a program.  The fees authorized by this subsection
  may be assessed as:
               (1)  a program application fee paid by the property
  owner requesting to participate in the program expressed as a set
  amount, a percentage of the amount of the assessment, or in any
  other manner;
               (2)  a component of the interest rate on the assessment
  in the written contract between the local government and the
  property owner; or
               (3)  a combination of Subdivisions (1) and (2).
         SECTION 5.  Sections 399.009(a) and (c), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The report for a proposed program required by Section
  399.008 must include:
               (1)  a map showing the boundaries of the proposed
  region;
               (2)  a form contract between the local government and
  the property owner specifying the terms of:
                     (A)  assessment under the program; and
                     (B)  financing provided by a third party or the
  local government, as appropriate;
               (3)  if the proposed program provides for third-party
  financing, a form contract between the local government and the
  third party regarding the servicing of the debt through
  assessments;
               (4)  a description of types of qualified projects that
  may be subject to contractual assessments;
               (5)  a statement identifying a local government
  representative [official] authorized to enter into written
  contracts on behalf of the local government;
               (6)  a plan for ensuring sufficient capital for
  third-party financing and, if appropriate, raising capital for
  local government financing for qualified projects;
               (7)  if bonds will be issued to provide capital to
  finance qualified projects as part of the program as provided by
  Section 399.016:
                     (A)  a maximum aggregate annual dollar amount for
  financing through contractual assessments to be provided by the
  local government under the program;
                     (B)  a method for ranking requests from property
  owners for financing through contractual assessments in priority
  order if requests appear likely to exceed the authorization amount;
  and
                     (C)  a method for determining:
                           (i)  the interest rate and period during
  which contracting owners would pay an assessment; and
                           (ii)  the maximum amount of an assessment;
               (8)  a method for ensuring that the period of the
  contractual assessment does not exceed the useful life of the
  qualified project that is the basis for the assessment;
               (9)  a description of the application process and
  eligibility requirements for financing qualified projects to be
  repaid through contractual assessments under the program;
               (10)  a method as prescribed by Subsection (b) for
  ensuring that property owners requesting to participate in the
  program demonstrate the financial ability to fulfill financial
  obligations to be repaid through contractual assessments;
               (11)  a statement explaining the manner in which
  property will be assessed and assessments will be collected;
               (12)  a statement explaining the lender notice
  requirement provided by Section 399.010;
               (13)  a statement explaining the review requirement
  provided by Section 399.011;
               (14)  a description of marketing and participant
  education services to be provided for the program;
               (15)  a description of quality assurance and antifraud
  measures to be instituted for the program; and
               (16)  the procedures for collecting the proposed
  contractual assessments.
         (c)  The local government shall make the report available for
  public inspection:
               (1)  on the local government's Internet website; and
               (2)  at the office of the representative [official]
  designated to enter into written contracts on behalf of the local
  government under the program.
         SECTION 6.  Section 399.011, Local Government Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection
  (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a)  A program established under this chapter must require
  for each proposed qualified project:
               (1)  a review of water or energy baseline conditions
  and the projected water or energy savings to establish the
  projected water or energy savings; and
               (2)  a verification that a proposed qualified
  improvement meets the requirements of a qualified project.
         (a-1)  A verification provided as required under Subsection
  (a)(2) conclusively establishes that the improvement is a qualified
  improvement and the project is a qualified project.
         (b)  After a qualified project is completed, the local
  government shall require written [obtain] verification that the
  qualified project was properly completed and is operating as
  intended.
         SECTION 7.  Section 399.014, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  After the notice of a contractual assessment is
  recorded as provided under Section 399.013, the lien may not be
  contested on the basis that the improvement is not a qualified
  improvement or the project is not a qualified project.
         SECTION 8.  Sections 399.017(a) and (c), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Any combination of local governments may agree to
  jointly implement or administer a program under this chapter,
  including entering into an interlocal contract under Chapter 791,
  Government Code, to jointly implement or administer a program.
         (c)  One or more local governments may contract with a third
  party, including another local government, to administer a program.
  Local governments that are parties to an interlocal contract
  described by Subsection (a) may contract with an entity listed in
  Section 791.013, Government Code, for program administration.
         SECTION 9.  Chapter 399, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 399.019 to read as follows:
         Sec. 399.019.  NO PERSONAL LIABILITY. The members of the
  governing body of a local government, employees of a local
  government, and board members, executives, employees, and
  contractors of a third party who enter into a contract with a local
  government to provide administrative services for a program under
  this chapter are not personally liable as a result of exercising any
  rights or responsibilities granted under this chapter.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.