BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 976

By: Birdwell

Special Purpose Districts

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the Falls County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 took action to dissolve the district subsequent to entering into an agreement with the City of Marlin to purchase property rights for the construction of local flood retention structures. The parties suggest that these assets, which were purchased with taxpayer money and are critical to the city's Brushy Creek reservoir project, should remain in the control of a public entity by being transferred to the city on the district's dissolution. S.B. 976 seeks to provide for this outcome by dissolving the district and authorizing the transfer of title of certain district assets and obligations to the city.

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

S.B. 976 provides for the dissolution of the Falls County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 on the bill's effective date and establishes that the district as of that date has no legal authority to take any action and that the transfer of the assets and obligations of the district to the City of Marlin is authorized. The bill establishes that the city bears the responsibility of transferring the title of the assets of the district to the city and of assuming the obligations of the district. The bill requires the county clerk of Falls County, the commissioners court of Falls County, and any district court with jurisdiction over a matter related to the bill's provisions to take notice of the bill as an authorization to transfer the title of the assets to the city and assume the obligations of the district on application or petition by the city.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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