BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4686

By: Oliverson

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to modify the road powers of the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 478 to allow for additional road improvements, as well as calls to provide for the division of the district. H.B. 4686 seeks to answer these calls by setting out provisions relating to the district's powers and duties. 

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

H.B. 4686 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to revise the authority of the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 478 to undertake certain road projects by removing the specification that such a road is described by certain statutory municipal utility district provisions and by expanding such authority to include the operation and maintenance of an applicable road. The bill repeals provisions relating to approval of a district road project and sets out instead provisions relating to road standards and requirements. The bill sets out provisions providing for the division of the district.

H.B. 4686 establishes that the district retains all the rights, powers, privileges, authority, duties, and functions that it had before the bill's effective date. The bill provides for the validation and confirmation of certain district actions and proceedings taken before such date. 

H.B. 4686 repeals the following provisions of the Special District Local Laws Code:

· Section 8334.003

· Section 8334.103(b)

· Section 8334.104

EFFECTIVE DATE

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