85R9556 DMS-F

By: Reynolds H.B. No. 2938

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 1 and 8, Chapter 986, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, are amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1. AUTHORITY. The Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas, is a conservation and reclamation district created under the authority of Section 59, Article XVI, and Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution. It is granted road utility district authority under Section 52(b)(3), Article III, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 441, Transportation Code, including the authority to repair and maintain streets and roadways in the district. In addition, the district has the powers of a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.065, Transportation Code, provided, however, that Section 451.065(d), Transportation Code, shall not apply to the district.

Sec. 8. BONDS. (a) The district may issue bonds, notes, and other obligations secured by revenues or contract payments from any lawful source other than ad valorem taxation without an election. The district may issue bonds, notes, and other obligations secured in whole or in part by ad valorem taxation, and levy ad valorem taxes for the payment thereof, only if the issuance is approved by a two-thirds majority of the voters of the district voting at an election called and held for that purpose.

(b) Section 49.181, Water Code, does not apply to bonds issued by the district under Section 49.4645, Water Code, if the bonds are not intended to reimburse a developer in the district.

(c) The outstanding principal amount of bonds, notes, and other obligations issued to finance parks and recreational facilities supported by ad valorem taxation may not exceed an amount equal to two percent of the taxable property in the district.

SECTION 2. (a) The legislature validates and confirms all acts and proceedings of the board of directors of the Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas, that were taken before the effective date of this Act.

(b) Subsection (a) of 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 judgment of a court; or

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

SECTION 3. (a) The legal notice of the intention to introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies, officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313, Government Code.

(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives within the required time.

(d) All requirements of the constitution and 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. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.