84R13268 MTB-F
 
  By: Keffer H.B. No. 4025
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to county energy transportation reinvestment zones.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 222.1071(b), (f), (i), and (m),
  Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A county, after determining that an area is affected
  because of oil and gas exploration and production activities and
  would benefit from funding under Chapter 256, by order or
  resolution of the commissioners court:
               (1)  may designate a contiguous geographic area in the
  jurisdiction of the county to be a county energy transportation
  reinvestment zone to promote one or more transportation
  infrastructure projects, as that term is defined by Section
  256.101, located in the county [zone]; and
               (2)  may jointly administer a county energy
  transportation reinvestment zone with a contiguous county energy
  transportation reinvestment zone formed by another county.
         (f)  The order or resolution designating an area as a county
  energy transportation reinvestment zone must:
               (1)  describe the boundaries of the zone with
  sufficient definiteness to identify with ordinary and reasonable
  certainty the territory included in the zone;
               (2)  provide that the zone takes effect immediately on
  adoption of the order or resolution designating an area and that the
  base year shall be the year of passage of the order or resolution
  designating an area or some year in the future;
               (3)  establish an ad valorem tax increment account for
  the zone or provide for the establishment of a joint ad valorem tax
  increment account, if applicable; and
               (4)  if two or more counties are designating a zone for
  the same transportation infrastructure project or projects,
  include a finding that:
                     (A)  the project or projects will benefit the
  property and residents located in the counties [zone];
                     (B)  the creation of the zone will serve a public
  purpose of the county; and
                     (C)  details the transportation infrastructure
  projects for which each county is responsible.
         (i)  The county may:
               (1)  use money in the tax increment account to provide:
                     (A)  matching funds under Section 256.105; and
                     (B)  funding for one or more transportation
  infrastructure projects located in the county [zone];
               (2)  apply for grants under Subchapter C, Chapter 256[,
  subject to Section 222.1072];
               (3)  use five percent of any grant distributed to the
  county under Subchapter C, Chapter 256, for the administration of a
  county energy transportation reinvestment zone, not to exceed
  $250,000;
               (4)  enter into an agreement to provide for the joint
  administration of county energy transportation reinvestment zones
  if the commissioners court of the county has designated a county
  energy transportation reinvestment zone under this section for the
  same transportation infrastructure project or projects as another
  county commissioners court; and
               (5)  pledge money in the tax increment account to a road
  utility district formed as provided by Subsection (n).
         (m)  The commissioners court of a county may enter into an
  agreement with the department to designate a county energy
  transportation reinvestment zone under this section for a specified
  transportation infrastructure project involving a state highway
  located in the county [proposed zone].
         SECTION 2.  Section 222.1072(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A county may create [is eligible to apply for a grant
  under Subchapter C, Chapter 256, if the county creates] an advisory
  board to advise the county on the establishment, administration,
  and expenditures of a county energy transportation reinvestment
  zone.  The county commissioners court shall determine the terms and
  duties of the advisory board members.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.