BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2654
85R10302 PAM-D	By: Stucky et al. (Lucio)
	Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
	5/15/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 2654 amends the Local Government Code to exempt a county assessor-collector who performs the duties of a local government relating to collection of assessments imposed by a local government under the Property Assessed Clean Energy Act from personal liability for exercising those duties under the act. The bill includes elected officials of a local government who are not members of the governing body of the local government among the persons exempt from personal liability for exercising any rights or responsibilities granted under the Act.

H.B. 2654 amends current law relating to the personal liability of certain elected officials under local government programs to fund water and energy savings improvements through assessments.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 399.015, Local Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 399.015. New heading: CONTRACT FOR COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS; NO PERSONAL LIABILITY. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes to this subsection.

(b) Provides that a county assessor-collector who performs the duties of a local government relating to collection of assessments imposed by a local government under this chapter (Municipal and County Water and Energy Improvement Regions) is not personally liable as a result of exercising those duties under this chapter.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 399.019, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 399.019. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY. Includes other elected officials of a local government in the list of certain persons associated with a local government who are not personally liable as a result of exercising any rights or responsibilities granted under this chapter.

SECTION 3. Makes application of Section 399.015, Local Government Code, as amended by this Act, prospective.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2017.