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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 3347

By: Bucy

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

There have been calls to expand the types of properties that a municipality may choose to exempt from its drainage charges, which currently include properties such as those owned by a tax-exempt religious organization and those used for cemetery purposes. C.S.H.B. 3347 seeks to authorize a municipality to exempt from all or a portion of its drainage fees a property that is used as the principal residence of an individual who is disabled, 65 years of age or older, a military veteran, or a service member on active deployment.

 

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. 3347 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality to exempt from all or a portion of its drainage charges a property that is used as the principal residence of an individual who is:

·         disabled for purposes of payment of federal disability insurance benefits under Social Security;  

·         65 years of age or older;

·         a veteran of the U.S. armed services; or

·         a member of the U.S. armed services on active deployment.

The bill authorizes the municipality to impose additional eligibility requirements for the exemption.

 

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. 3347 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 limits the property eligible for the exemption to property used as the principal residence of a qualifying owner.

 

The substitute changes the disabled individuals who qualify for the exemption from those who are significantly disabled to those who are disabled for purposes of certain federal disability insurance benefits.

 

The substitute includes an authorization for a municipality to impose additional eligibility requirements for the exemption.