BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4722

By: Bailes

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that the enabling legislation for the Liberty Public Utility District is outdated and that the needs of the district have changed. H.B. 4722 seeks to address these issues by converting the district to the Liberty County Municipal Utility District No. 7 and codifying and amending the powers and duties of the 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

H.B. 4722 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to convert the Liberty Public Utility District to the Liberty County Municipal Utility District No. 7. The bill grants the district the power to undertake certain road projects and provides for the division of the district. The bill authorizes the district, subject to certain requirements, to issue obligations and impose property, operation and maintenance, and contract taxes. The bill expressly prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain if the bill does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house. The bill establishes that the district retains all rights, powers, privileges, authorities, 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 the bill's effective date.

H.B. 4722 repeals Chapter 623, Acts of the 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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