BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2553
	By: Watson
	Intergovernmental Relations
	4/26/2019
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The community surrounding the Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, known locally as "Muny," has long called for its preservation as a green space or golf course, and more recently for its place in desegregation history.

 

In 1910, Colonel George Washington Brackenridge donated a tract of land along the northern shore of the Colorado River, west of downtown Austin, to The University of Texas. The Lions Club of Austin leased 141 acres for the construction of a golf course. After completion, the lease was transferred to the city in 1936.

 

S.B. 2553 provides a mechanism for the community to directly contribute to securing the historic Muny golf course from The University of Texas at Austin for future generations by voting to pay a fee that would help fund the acquisition of the property. The district created by S.B. 2553 could also serve as a conduit for gifts, grants, or donations for that purpose.

 

The bill creates a committee to appoint the first five-member board. The appointment committee will consist of the executive directors of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission, the mayor, the county judge, and the Texas Director of The Nature Conservancy.

 

The district will expire after December 31, 2020, if no successful election has been held nor gifts, grants, or donations received.

 

The district is expressly prohibited from exercising eminent domain.

 

As proposed, S.B. 2553 amends current law relating to the creation of the Save Historic Muny District, provides authority to issue bonds, and� provides authority to impose fees.

 

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 C, Title 4, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Chapter 3988, as follows:

 

CHAPTER 3988. SAVE HISTORIC MUNY DISTRICT

 

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Save Historical Muny District (district) in Travis County. Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

 

Creation and approval of the district (Sections 3988.0101�3988.0108);

 

Size, composition, and terms of the board of directors of the district, appointment of directors, and composition of the appointing committee (Sections 3988.0201‑3988.0203); and

 

Powers and duties of the district, authority to use available money for improvement projects and services, and provisions relating to parking facilities (Sections 3988.0301�3988.0305).

 

Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain (Section 3988.0366).

 

SECTION 2. Sets forth initial boundaries of the district.

 

SECTION 3. 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 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.