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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the online publication of information by certain |
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special purpose districts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 403.0241, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) The comptroller shall create and make accessible on the |
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Internet a database, to be known as the Special Purpose District |
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Public Information Database, that contains information regarding: |
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(1) all special purpose districts of this state that: |
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(A) [(1)] are authorized by the state by a |
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general or special law to impose an ad valorem tax or a sales and use |
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tax, to impose an assessment, or to charge a fee; and |
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(B) [(2)] during the most recent fiscal year: |
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(i) [(A)] had bonds outstanding; |
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(ii) [(B)] had gross receipts from |
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operations, loans, taxes, or contributions in excess of $250,000; |
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or |
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(iii) [(C)] had cash and temporary |
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investments in excess of $250,000; and |
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(2) all emergency services districts and municipal |
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utility districts with a population of more than 100. |
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(c-1) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (c), the |
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entry for each emergency services district and municipal utility |
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district in the database must include: |
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(1) an indication of how a person may contact a |
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specified person or address to obtain: |
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(A) contact information for board members; and |
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(B) meeting agendas and minutes; |
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(2) the term of each board member; and |
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(3) information provided to the comptroller under |
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Section 775.046(c), Health and Safety Code, or Section 54.244(c), |
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Water Code, as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 775, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 775.046 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 775.046. ONLINE PUBLICATION. (a) In this section, |
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"comptroller database" means the Special Purpose District Public |
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Information Database established under Section 403.0241, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) This section applies only to a district with a |
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population of more than 100. |
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(c) In addition to information a district is required to |
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provide to the comptroller under Section 403.0241, Government Code, |
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and Section 203.062, Local Government Code, the district annually |
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shall provide to the comptroller for inclusion in the comptroller |
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database: |
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(1) an indication of whether the district's |
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commissioners are appointed or elected; |
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(2) if the district's commissioners are elected: |
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(A) an indication of the month in which the |
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district's regular elections take place; |
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(B) instructions for becoming a candidate to be |
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elected as a commissioner, including any relevant deadlines for |
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filing required documents; and |
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(C) instructions for obtaining the results of |
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district elections; and |
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(3) if the district's commissioners are appointed, a |
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description of the appointment process and the person or body that |
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has appointing authority. |
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(d) A district shall maintain: |
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(1) an Internet website; or |
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(2) an Internet domain name that: |
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(A) includes a form of the name of the district; |
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and |
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(B) directs a user to the district's entry in the |
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comptroller database. |
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(e) If the district maintains an Internet website, the board |
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shall ensure that the following items are posted on the Internet |
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website and that the items required under Subdivisions (3), (4), |
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and (5) are updated on the district's Internet website at least 90 |
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days before the date of an election held by the district: |
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(1) a link to the district's entry in the comptroller |
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database; |
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(2) the name and term of each commissioner; |
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(3) the information described by Subsections |
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(c)(1)-(3); |
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(4) the district's tax rate; |
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(5) the district's budget; and |
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(6) meeting agendas and minutes. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 54.244 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.244. ONLINE PUBLICATION. (a) In this section, |
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"comptroller database" means the Special Purpose District Public |
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Information Database established under Section 403.0241, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) This section applies only to a district with a |
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population of more than 100. |
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(c) In addition to information a district is required to |
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provide to the comptroller under Section 403.0241, Government Code, |
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and Section 203.062, Local Government Code, the district annually |
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shall provide to the comptroller for inclusion in the comptroller |
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database: |
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(1) an indication of whether the district's directors |
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are appointed or elected; |
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(2) if the district's directors are elected: |
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(A) an indication of the month in which the |
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district's regular elections take place; |
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(B) instructions for becoming a candidate to be |
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elected as a director, including any relevant deadlines for filing |
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required documents; and |
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(C) instructions for obtaining the results of |
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district elections; and |
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(3) if the district's directors are appointed, a |
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description of the appointment process and the person or body that |
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has appointing authority. |
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(d) A district shall maintain: |
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(1) an Internet website; or |
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(2) an Internet domain name that: |
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(A) includes a form of the name of the district; |
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and |
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(B) directs a user to the district's entry in the |
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comptroller database. |
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(e) If the district maintains an Internet website, the board |
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shall ensure that the following items are posted on the Internet |
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website and that the items required by Subdivisions (3), (4), and |
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(5) are updated on the district's Internet website at least 90 days |
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before the date of an election held by the district: |
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(1) a link to the district's entry in the comptroller |
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database; |
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(2) the name and term of each director; |
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(3) the information described by Subsections |
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(c)(1)-(3); |
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(4) the district's tax rate; |
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(5) the district's budget; and |
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(6) meeting agendas and minutes. |
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(f) A district shall provide a link to the Internet website |
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or the Internet domain name required under Subsection (d): |
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(1) on the first page of each bill sent to a customer; |
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and |
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(2) in a prominent location on each electronic bill or |
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receipt sent to a customer. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |