BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2295

By: Zaffirini

Special Purpose Districts

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Continuing development and growth in Central Texas, including Hays County, has created the need to update the law relating to the LaSalle Municipal Utility District No. 1. S.B. 2295 seeks to provide these updates.

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. 2295 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to remove provisions that provide for the appointment of temporary directors of the LaSalle Municipal Utility District No. 1 by petition of applicable property owners of the district. The bill instead names the temporary directors and revises the terms of the temporary directors.

S.B. 2295 authorizes the district's board of directors to finance the construction or maintenance of a recreational facility or improvement with assessments on property only if a written petition requesting that facility or improvement has been filed with the board and the board holds a hearing on the proposed assessments. The bill sets out related provisions, including provisions relating to miscellaneous design, construction, and maintenance; method of notice for the hearing; liens for assessments; and utility property exempt from assessments. The bill prohibits the district from issuing bonds payable wholly or partly from assessments.

S.B. 2295 provides for the validation, ratification, 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.