By: Huffines S.B. No. 1679

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to procedures for a certain municipalities to adopt or amend a national model building code.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 214.217, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 214.217. PROCEDURES FOR [NOTICE REGARDING] MODEL CODE ADOPTION OR AMENDMENT IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES.

SECTION 2. Section 214.217, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b) and (e) and adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:

(b) This section applies only to a municipality with a population of more than 40,000 [100,000].

(e) The [On the written request from five or more persons, the] governing body of the municipality shall hold two public hearings [a public hearing] open to public comment on the proposed adoption of or amendment to a national model code under this section. The hearings [hearing] must be held on or before the 14th day before the date the governing body adopts the ordinance that adopts or amends a national model code under this section.

(g) Before adopting or amending a national model code, the governing body of a municipality must publish a cost-benefit analysis of the code or amendment that includes:

(1) estimations of the code's or amendment's:

(A) cost to the local economy;

(B) effect on tax revenue;

(C) effect on net growth in new development in the municipality; and

(D) additional cost per unit of development in each type of zoning use designated by the municipality; and

(2) for an amendment that addresses existing or potential harm to health and safety:

(A) scientific evidence supporting the probability or likelihood that the harm has occurred or will occur; and

(B) scientific evidence supporting the probability or likelihood that the amendment will prevent or address the harm.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.