BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2936

By: Deshotel

Texas Ports, Innovation & Infrastructure, Select

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District recently conducted an informal survey resulting in recommendations believed to be in the best interest of affected taxpayers relating to the compensation packages for certain district commissioners and employees and to duplicative requirements regarding the district's bonded debt. The goal of H.B. 2936 is to address these recommendations with respect to revisions in the district's enabling law.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2936 amends Chapter 197, Acts of the 58th Legislature, Regular Session, 1963, to provide for the commissioners and employees of the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas, to receive benefits set by the district's board of port commissioners. The bill changes the entity required to impose a maintenance tax and taxes necessary for the purposes of paying the interest on the district's bonded debt and creating a sinking fund from the Jefferson County Commissioners Court upon requisition of the board to the board itself. The bill provides for the validation and confirmation of certain district actions taken before the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.