By: VanDeaver (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 967
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;
  May 11, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Administration; May 22, 2017, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0, 1 present not voting; May 22, 2017, sent to
  printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the powers of the TexAmericas Center.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 3503.003(a), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The authority is created to:
               (1)  accept title on approval by, and in coordination
  with, the governor to all or a portion of the property on, adjacent
  to, or related to the property described by Section 3503.004 from
  the United States;
               (2)  promote the location and development of new
  businesses, industries, and commercial activities on or related to
  the property;
               (3)  undertake a project the board considers necessary
  or incidental to the industrial, commercial, or business
  development, redevelopment, maintenance, and expansion of new or
  existing businesses on and for the property described by Section
  3503.004, including the acquisition, construction, operation,
  maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, replacement, improvement,
  extension, expansion, or enhancement of:
                     (A)  roads, bridges, and rights-of-way;
                     (B)  housing;
                     (C)  property;
                     (D)  police, fire, medical, cultural,
  educational, and research services, equipment, institutions, and
  resources;
                     (E)  other community support services;
                     (F)  flood control, water, wastewater treatment,
  natural gas, electricity, solid waste disposal, steam generation,
  communications, and all other utility facilities and services;
                     (G)  other infrastructure improvements; and
                     (H)  any other services or facilities acquired by
  the authority from the United States;
               (4)  promote or support an active military base located
  in the same county as the authority to prevent closure or
  realignment of the base and attract new military missions to the
  base; [and]
               (5)  exercise the powers granted to a conservation and
  reclamation district under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution; and
               (6)  promote regional economic development and job
  creation inside the district's boundaries and outside of the
  district's boundaries in Bowie County and adjacent counties.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 3503, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 3503.112 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 3503.112.  NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS FOR SPECIAL
  PROJECTS. (a) The authority may authorize by resolution the
  creation of a nonprofit corporation under the Business
  Organizations Code solely to undertake on behalf of the authority a
  project described by Section 3503.003(a)(3).
         (b)  The board shall appoint the board of directors of each
  nonprofit corporation created under this section. A board member
  is not required to reside in the authority.
         (c)  A board member or employee of the authority may
  simultaneously serve as a member of the board of directors of a
  nonprofit corporation. A person serving as a board member of the
  authority and of a nonprofit corporation created under this section
  may participate in all votes relating to the business of the
  authority or the corporation.
         (d)  The nonprofit corporation may not exercise the power of
  eminent domain.
         (e)  A nonprofit corporation created under this section is
  subject to Chapters 551 and 552, Government Code.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
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