BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2938

By: Reynolds

Special Purpose Districts

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas, intends to expand its existing park system, but concerns have been raised that there are too many constraints on the district's ability to fund this expansion by issuing bonds. H.B. 2938 seeks to remove these constraints.

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. 2938 amends Chapter 986, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to specify that the Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas, is a conservation and reclamation district created under the authority of specified provisions of the Texas Constitution. The bill exempts certain bonds supported by property taxes for recreational facilities issued by the district from Water Code provisions relating to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality authority over the issuance of bonds of certain water districts if the bonds are not intended to reimburse a developer in the district. The bill prohibits the outstanding principal amount of bonds, notes, and other obligations issued to finance parks and recreational facilities supported by property taxation from exceeding an amount equal to two percent of the taxable property in the district.

H.B. 2938 provides for the validation and confirmation of certain district actions and proceedings taken before the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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