BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2660

By: Calanni

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that an area located within Harris County would benefit from the creation of a water control and improvement district. C.S.H.B. 2660 seeks to provide for the creation of such a district.

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

C.S.H.B. 2660 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to create the Richfield Ranch Water Control and Improvement District of Harris County, Texas, subject to municipal consent and voter approval at a confirmation election. The bill grants the district the power to undertake certain road projects. The bill authorizes the district, subject to certain requirements, to issue obligations, including bonds for road projects and recreational facilities, and impose property, operation and maintenance, and contract taxes. The bill, if it receives a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house, prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain outside the district boundaries to acquire a site or easement for a recreational facility or a road project. The bill, if it does not receive such a vote, expressly prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2660 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute specifies that the purposes of a water control and improvement district that the Richfield Ranch Water Control and Improvement District of Harris County, Texas, is created to accomplish include the collection, transportation, processing, disposal, and control of domestic, industrial, or communal waste and the gathering, conducting, diverting, and control of local stormwater or other harmful excesses of water.

The substitute specifies that the water control and improvement district powers and duties granted to the Richfield Ranch Water Control and Improvement District of Harris County, Texas, specifically include authorized powers and duties relating to waste disposal and control of stormwater.