BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1355

87R13103 TYPED

By: Taylor

 

Local Government

 

3/26/2021

 

As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 1355 creates Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 83 (district). The district will encompass approximately 438 acres of land located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Manvel. S.B. 1355 is a standard template bill and provides for water, sewer, drainage, and road facilities (facilities), which need to be secured because the land to be located within the district will be developed for residential purposes. The district is created under Water Code provisions applicable to all water districts and to municipal utility districts and under constitutional provisions relating to conservation and reclamation districts. The district will have standard road powers and must comply with all applicable road standards. The district will have the authority to issue tax-exempt bonds to purchase, acquire, or construct the facilities. It is also necessary to empower the district with authority to impose a tax and to grant the district a limited power of eminent domain. The bill provides for the creation, administration, powers, duties, operation, and financing of the district.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1355 amends current law relating to the creation of the Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 83, grants a limited power of eminent domain, provides authority to issue bonds, and provides authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

 

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 _____, as follows:

 

CHAPTER ______. BRAZORIA COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 83

 

Sets forth standard language for the creation of the Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 83 (district) in Brazoria County. Sets forth standards, procedures, requirements, and criteria for:

 

Creation and approval of the district (Sections ___.001-____.006);

 

Size, composition, election, and terms of the board of directors of the district (Sections ����___.051-��_____.052);

 

Powers and duties of the district (Sections ____.101-_____.105); and

 

General financial provisions and authority to impose a tax and to issue bonds and obligations for the district (Sections ____.151-_____203).

 

SECTION 2. Sets forth the boundaries of the district.

 

SECTION 3. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and laws of this state and the rules and provisions of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.

 

SECTION 4. (a) Provides that, if this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter ____, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is amended by adding Section ____.106 to read as follows:

 

Sec. ___.106. NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. Prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

 

(b) Provides that this section is not intended to be an expression of a legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c), Article I, Texas Constitution.

 

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.