BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4704
86R23078 TSR-F	By: Smith (Fallon)
	Intergovernmental Relations
	5/15/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 4704 creates the Double M Municipal Utility District of Grayson County (district). The district will encompass approximately 780.28 acres of land located within Grayson County, Texas. The district is located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Gunter, Texas.

H.B. 4704 is a standard template bill and provides for water, sewer, drainage, and road facilities (facilities) which need to be secured because the land to be located within the district will be developed for residential purposes. H.B. 4704 follows the template in all regards, except it gives the district the authority to divide and requires that any new district created by division must hold a confirmation election. H.B. 4704 also provides that the district may be annexed into the corporate limits of the City of Gunter without being dissolved. The district is created under Water Code provisions applicable to all water districts and to municipal utility districts and under constitutional provisions relating to conservation and reclamation districts. The district will have full road powers and must comply with all applicable road standards. H.B. 4704 provides that the district may not act as a retail water provider, and the district must make its facilities available to the certificate of convenience and necessity holder. The district will have the authority to issue tax-exempt bonds to purchase, acquire, or construct the facilities. It is also necessary to empower the district with authority to impose a tax and to grant the district a limited power of eminent domain. The bill provides for the creation, administration, powers, duties, operation, and financing of the district.

H.B. 4704 amends current law relating to the creation of the Double M Municipal Utility District of Grayson County; grants a limited power of eminent domain; provides authority to issue bonds; and provides authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. �Amends Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 8314, as follows:

CHAPTER 8314.� DOUBLE M MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT OF

�GRAYSON COUNTY

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Double M Municipal Utility District of Grayson County (district) in Grayson County. Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

Creation and approval of the district (Sections 8314.0101�8314.0107);

Size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors of the district, including provisions related to temporary directors (Sections 8314.0201�8314.0202);

Powers and duties of the district (Sections 8314.0301�8314.0306);

General financial provisions and authority to impose a tax (Sections 8314.0401�8314.0403); and

Authority to issue bonds and obligations for the district (Sections 8314.0501�8314.0503).

SECTION 2. Sets forth the initial boundaries of the district.

SECTION 3. Provides that 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. (a) Provides that if this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C (Powers and Duties), Chapter 8314, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is amended by adding Section 8314.0307, as follows:

Sec. 8314.0307.� NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

(b) Provides that this section is not intended to be an expression of a legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c), Article I, Texas Constitution.

SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2019.