BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2131

By: Powell

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In an effort to support the redevelopment of closed military installations and help local communities enhance the value of active military installations, the Texas Legislature established a revolving loan fund to offer a low-cost alternative for military communities to fund needed projects for base redevelopment or enhancement of active installations. It has been suggested that the efficiency of the process for borrowing money from the Texas military value revolving loan account could be improved. S.B. 2131 seeks to make such improvements by authorizing certain project approval votes to be made electronically or by teleconference, creating an appropriately reviewed common application form, and authorizing the use of loan proceeds to pay certain project-related debts.  

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

S.B. 2131 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Military Preparedness Commission to allow for members' participation in a meeting by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication to consider an application for a loan from the Texas military value revolving loan account. The bill subjects any voting conducted by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication to the quorum requirements of meetings where members are present in person. The bill authorizes a defense community awarded such a loan for an eligible project to use a portion of the loan proceeds to pay off other debt, including commercial debt, the defense community incurred for purposes of financing the project. The bill specifies that the adoption of a loan application form by the Texas Military Preparedness Commission is to be in consultation with the Texas Public Finance Authority. The bill establishes that the commission is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commission may, but it is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.