BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 2296

 

By: Zaffirini

 

Intergovernmental Relations

 

6/28/2017

 

Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Continuing development and growth in Central Texas, including Hays County, has created the need for large-scale, permanent improvements such as water supply and distribution facilities, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, drainage and flood control projects, and thoroughfare improvements. Section 59 (Conservation and Development of Natural Resources and Parks and Recreational Facilities; Conservation and Reclamation Districts), Article XVI, and Section 52 (Counties, Cities or Other Political Corporations or Subdivisions; Lending Credit; Grants; Bonds), Article III, Texas Constitution, provide for the creation of local governmental districts which may incur indebtedness to provide such permanent improvements and levy taxes for the maintenance and operation of such improvements and the repayment of indebtedness.

 

S.B. 2296 allows LaSalle Municipal Utility District No. 2 the authority to impose assessments on property to finance the construction or maintenance of a recreational facility or improvement, provided that a written petition requesting that facility or improvement has been filed with the board and the board holds a hearing on the proposed assessments. S.B. 2296 also names temporary directors and makes minor changes to reconfigure the boundary of the district. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

S.B. 2296 amends current law relating to the temporary board of and financing of certain facilities and improvements by the LaSalle Municipal Utility District No. 2 and provides authority to impose an assessment.

 

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 Sections 8473.052(a) and (b), Special District Local Laws Code, as follows:

 

(a) Provides that the temporary board of directors of the LaSalle Municipal Utility District No. 2 (board; district) consists of certain persons. Deletes text of existing Subsection (a) authorizing the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district, on or after the effective date of the Act enacting this chapter (LaSalle Municipal Utility District No. 2), to submit a certain petition and requiring the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to appoint as temporary directors certain persons named in the petition.

 

(b) Provides that the temporary directors serve until the earlier of the date permanent directors are elected under Section 8473.003 (Confirmation and Directors� Election Required) or the fourth anniversary of the effective date of their designation, rather than the fourth anniversary of the effective date of the Act enacting this chapter.�

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 8473.201, Special District Local Laws Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 8473.201. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS. (a) Creates an exception as provided by Subsection (b) and makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

(b) Prohibits the district from issuing bonds payable wholly or partly from assessments.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 8473, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Subchapter F, as follows:

 

SUBCHAPTER F. ASSESSMENTS; APPLICABILITY OF ASSESSMENTS

 

Sec. 8473.251. PETITION REQUIRED FOR FINANCING IMPROVEMENTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH ASSESSMENTS. (a) Authorizes the board, except as provided by this subchapter, to finance the construction or maintenance of a recreational facility or improvement with assessments on property under this subchapter 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.

 

(b) Requires that the petition be signed by the owners of a majority of the assessed value of real property in the district subject to assessment according to the most recent certified tax appraisal roll for the county.

 

Sec. 8473.252. MISCELLANEOUS DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE. Authorizes an improvement or recreational facility project to include the planning, design, construction, improvement, and maintenance of certain items.

 

Sec. 8473.253. METHOD OF NOTICE FOR HEARING. Requires the district to mail notice of the hearing to each property owner in the district who will be subject to the assessment at the current address to be assessed as reflected on the tax rolls. Authorizes the district to mail the notice by certified or first class United States mail and requires the board to determine the method of notice.

 

Sec. 8473.254. ASSESSMENTS; LIENS FOR ASSESSMENTS. (a) Provides that an assessment or a reassessment imposed under this subchapter by the district, penalties and interest on an assessment or reassessment, an expense of collection, and reasonable attorney�s fees incurred by the district:

 

(1) are a first and prior lien against the property assessed;

 

(2) are superior to any other lien or claim other than a lien or claim for county, school district, or municipal ad valorem taxes; and

 

(3) are the personal liability of and a charge against the owners of the property even if the owners are not named in the assessment proceedings.

 

(b) Provides that the lien is effective from the date of the board�s resolution imposing the assessment until the date the assessment is paid and authorizes the board to enforce the lien in the same manner that the board is authorized to enforce an ad valorem tax lien against real property.

 

(c) Authorizes the board to make a correction to or deletion from the assessment roll that does not increase the amount of assessment of any parcel of land without providing notice and holding a hearing in the manner required for additional assessments.

 

Sec. 8473.255. UTILITY PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM ASSESSMENTS. Prohibits the district from imposing an assessment on the property, including the equipment, rights-of-way, facilities, or improvements, of certain utility and service providers.

 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 2, Chapter 626, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, to provide that the district initially includes certain territory and sets forth the amended boundaries of that territory.

 

SECTION 5. (a) Provides that all governmental and proprietary actions of the district taken before the effective date of this Act, including the creation of the district, the consent to create the district granted by the City of San Marcos, the consent agreement relating to the district and any amendments to that agreement, and any extension of time in which to hold a confirmation election for the district, are validated, ratified, and confirmed in all respects.

 

(b) Provides that this section does not apply to any matter that on the effective date of this Act:

 

(1) is involved in litigation if the litigation ultimately results in the matter being held invalid by a final court judgment; or

 

(2) has been held invalid by a final court judgment.

 

SECTION 6. 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 7. Provides that, for purposes of Section 8473.052(b)(2), Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by this Act, the effective date of the temporary directors� designation is the effective date of this Act.

 

SECTION 8. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.

 

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