BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2526
86R9070 SLB-F	By: Bettencourt
	Intergovernmental Relations
	4/13/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 379 (district) encompasses an area within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston. The land located within the district is in need of new and expanded road facilities to accommodate development. S.B. 2526 authorizes the district to impose taxes and issue bonds and obligations to provide road facilities to the district.

As proposed, S.B. 2526 amends current law relating to the powers and duties of the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 379 and provides authority to issue bonds.

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 8045, as follows:

CHAPTER 8045. HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 379

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 8045.0101. DEFINITIONS. Defines "district" as the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 379 (district).

Sec. 8045.0102. FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT. (a) Provides that the district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit.

(b) Provides that the district is created to accomplish the purposes of:

(1) a municipal utility district as provided by general law and Section 59 (Conservation and Development of Natural Resources; Development of Parks and Recreational Facilities; Conservation and Reclamation Districts; Indebtedness and Taxation Authorized), Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and

(2) Section 52 (Restrictions on Lending Credit or Making Grants by Political Corporations or Political Subdivisions; Authorized Bonds; Investment of Funds), Article III, Texas Constitution, that relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation, or maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.

SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES

Sec. 8045.0201. AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Authorizes the district, under Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, to design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate, maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for operation and maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.

Sec. 8045.0202. ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) Requires a road project to meet all applicable construction standards, zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulations of each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the road project is located.

(b) Requires the road project, if a road project is not located in the corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, to meet all applicable construction standards, subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which the road project is located.

(c) Requires the Texas Transportation Commission, if the state will maintain and operate the road, to approve the plans and specifications of the road project.

SUBCHAPTER C. BONDS

Sec. 8045.0301. BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Prohibits the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from ad valorem taxes, at the time of issuance, from exceeding one-fourth of the assessed value of the real property in the district.

SECTION 2. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and the 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 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.