BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2390

By: Paul

International Relations & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Gulf Coast Authority (GCA), whose mission is to protect the state's waters through environmentally sound, economically feasible, and technologically advanced wastewater and water management practices, has raised concerns regarding the ever-changing geographic boundaries of the state's waters and the effect of these fluctuations on GCA projects. There have been calls to create efficiencies for regional treatment facilities and to identify ways to decrease costs for these projects. Furthermore, prolonged droughts have prompted requests to GCA to provide treatment of waters across multiple geographic regions. By allowing GCA to finance projects across Texas' borders, GCA systems would be expanded and would not only reduce costs, but would yield significant environmental and safety benefits to the regions served. H.B. 2390 seeks to remedy this situation by providing additional financing options for GCA projects in hopes of attracting new industry to Texas and improving water quality.

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. 2390 amends Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, to authorize a development corporation created by the Gulf Coast Authority to finance the following:

· projects authorized under the Development Corporation Act located inside or outside of Texas; and

· qualified improvements as defined by the Property Assessed Clean Energy Act located inside or outside of Texas in the same manner and to the same extent as a municipality or county may do so under that act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.