BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4279

By: King, Tracy O.

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the Frio Hospital District has expressed interest in expanding its territory but that changes to the district's enabling legislation are needed for the district to do so. H.B. 4279 seeks to make such changes.

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. 4279 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to authorize registered voters of a defined territory composed of all territory within Frio County that does not include the territory of the Frio Hospital District to file a petition with the district's board secretary requesting inclusion of the territory in the district. The bill sets out petition requirements and provisions relating to notice of a hearing on the petition, an order of annexation, a ratification election, ballot language, an annexation election, and the composition and election of the district's board following annexation. The bill replaces provisions establishing requirements for a notice regarding the election of district directors and for ballot petitions applicable to a candidate for district director with requirements for such notice and for a ballot application that are in accordance with applicable Election Code provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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