BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 4345
85R33113 E	By: Rodriguez, Eddie (Watson)
	Intergovernmental Relations
	5/22/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 4345 creates the Rio de Vida Municipal Utility District No. 1 (district). The district encompasses approximately 2,132 acres of land located in Travis County. Water, sewer, drainage, and road facilities need to be secured because the land to be located within the district will be developed for mixed-use purposes. The district is created under Water Code provisions applicable to all water districts and to municipal utility districts and under constitutional provisions relating to conservation and reclamation districts. The district will have standard road powers and must comply with all applicable city standards. The district will have the authority to divide; any new district created by division may not, at the time of creation, contain any land outside the initial boundaries of the district. The district will have the authority to contract to further regional cooperation and will have the authority to administer programs for economic development, upon city consent. The district will have the authority to issue tax-exempt bonds to purchase, acquire, or construct facilities. It is also necessary to empower the district with authority to impose an ad valorem tax, and a sales and use tax, that is capped at the lesser of the rate adopted by the City of Austin or two percent.

 

C.S.H.B. 4345 amends current law relating to the creation of the Rio de Vida Municipal Utility District No. 1 and provides authority to impose a tax and issue bonds.

 

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 Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 8013, as follows:

 

CHAPTER 8013. RIO DE VIDA MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1

 

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Rio De Vida Municipal Utility District No. 1 (district). Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

 

Creation and approval of the district (Sections 8013.001-8013.050);

 

Size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors of the district, including provisions for temporary directors (Sections 8013.051-8013.100);

 

Powers and duties of the district (Sections 8013.101-8013.150);

 

Division of district into multiple districts (Sections 8013.151-8013.200);

 

General financial provisions and authority to impose a tax and to issue bonds and obligations for the district (Sections 8013.201-8013.350); and

 

Municipal annexation and dissolution (Sections 8013.401-8013.404).

 

Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

 

SECTION 2. Sets forth the initial boundaries of the district.

 

SECTION 3. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and the laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.