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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedure for approval of certain land development |
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applications by a municipality or county. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 212.001, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivisions (1-a), (1-b), (1-c), (4), and (5) to |
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read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Land development" means an activity relating to |
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the development or redevelopment of land, including subdivision |
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development, construction of subdivision improvements, site |
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development, and development of on-site and off-site improvements. |
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(1-b) "Land development application" means an |
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application or other document relating to land development under |
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this chapter that is required to be approved by a municipal body |
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before the land development may commence. The term includes a title |
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or description used by municipalities to refer to those |
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applications or other documents, including "preliminary plat," |
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"plat," "final plat," "replat," "preliminary plan," "master |
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planning document," "master development plan," "plan," "general |
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plan," "subdivision development plan," "subdivision plan," "site |
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plan," or "site development plan." The term does not include: |
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(A) an application or other document for which |
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approval by a municipal body does not authorize the land |
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development to commence; or |
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(B) a subdivision construction plan, subdivision |
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engineering plan, or similar or related plan. |
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(1-c) "Municipal body" means the applicable municipal |
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authority for approving a land development application. The term |
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includes a municipal planning commission or its designee, a |
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municipality authority for approving land development applications |
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or its designee, and the governing body of the municipality or its |
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designee. |
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(4) "Required document" means a document required by |
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the municipality or state or federal law for the approval of a land |
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development application. The term includes, as applicable: |
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(A) associated drainage studies; |
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(B) traffic impact analyses; |
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(C) utility evaluations; |
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(D) geotechnical reports; |
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(E) groundwater availability certifications |
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required under Section 212.0101; |
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(F) tree surveys or mitigation studies; |
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(G) studies of wetlands or waters of the United |
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States; and |
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(H) endangered species studies. |
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(5) "Submit" means the act by a person of providing, |
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delivering, or relaying by any means a copy of a land development |
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application to a municipal body. The term includes all variations |
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of the term, including "apply to and submit," "submitted," and |
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"submitting." The term does not include the acceptance, |
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acknowledgment, receipt, processing, or performance of a |
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completeness check of the land development application or required |
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document or any other action by a municipal body in response to the |
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submission of a copy of the land development application. |
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SECTION 2. Section 212.008, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 212.008. APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL. (a) A person |
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desiring approval of a land development application [plat] must |
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apply to and submit [file] a copy of the application [plat] with the |
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municipal planning commission or its designee or, if the |
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municipality has no planning commission, the governing body of the |
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municipality or its designee. |
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(b) Except as provided by Section 212.0101, a municipal body |
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may not require a person to submit a required document or fulfill |
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any other prerequisites or conditions before the person submits a |
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copy of a land development application with the body. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 212, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Sections 212.0082, 212.0083, and |
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212.0087 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 212.0082. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. (a) |
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A municipal body may require a person desiring approval of a land |
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development application to submit a required document for the |
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application only if: |
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(1) the governing body of the municipality has adopted |
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the requirement by ordinance; and |
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(2) the municipality made available to the person |
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before the submission of the application: |
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(A) a list of all required documents for the |
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application; or |
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(B) publications of all required documents for |
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the application. |
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(b) A municipal body may not require a person to submit new |
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or additional required documents for which the requirements of |
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Subsection (a) have not been met. |
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(c) A municipal body may not, on the grounds that a person |
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has failed to submit for a land development application a required |
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document for which the requirements of Subsection (a) have not been |
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met: |
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(1) refuse to accept, acknowledge, receive, or process |
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the application or other required documents; |
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(2) disapprove the application or other required |
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documents; |
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(3) consider the application or other required |
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documents incomplete; or |
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(4) refuse to comply with the procedures and timelines |
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prescribed for land development applications and required |
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documents under this subchapter with respect to the application and |
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documents. |
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Sec. 212.0083. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPROVAL AND |
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CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. (a) A person desiring |
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approval of a land development application may submit required |
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documents with the application or after submitting the application. |
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If the person elects to submit the documents afterwards, a |
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municipal body may conditionally approve the application on the |
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condition that the applicant submit the documents in accordance |
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with Subsection (c). |
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(b) An election by a person to submit the required documents |
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after submitting a land development application is not grounds for |
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a municipal body to: |
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(1) refuse to accept, acknowledge, receive, or process |
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the application or documents; |
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(2) disapprove the application or documents; |
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(3) consider the application or documents incomplete; |
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or |
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(4) refuse to comply with the procedures and timelines |
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prescribed for land development applications and required |
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documents under this subchapter with respect to the person's |
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application and documents. |
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(c) A municipal body that conditionally approves a land |
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development application under Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) make an approval determination on each individual |
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required document under the same approval procedures and timelines |
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as those prescribed for a land development application under this |
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subchapter; |
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(2) approve or disapprove, but not conditionally |
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approve, each individual required document; |
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(3) provide to the applicant comments on a required |
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document not later than the 30th day after the date the applicant |
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submits the document; and |
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(4) make an approval determination on a required |
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document not later than the 60th day after the date the applicant |
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submits the document. |
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(d) On disapproval of a required document, an applicant may |
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submit to the municipal body a written response that remedies each |
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reason for disapproval. The municipal body may not establish a |
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deadline for the applicant to submit the response. |
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(e) On receipt of a response under Subsection (d), a |
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municipal body shall determine whether to approve or disapprove the |
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applicant's previously disapproved required document not later |
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than the 15th day after the date the applicant submits the response. |
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Sec. 212.0087. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: BIFURCATED APPROVAL. |
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(a) After receiving a request from at least five applicants and |
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conducting a public hearing on the matter at which interested |
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parties must be heard, a municipality shall establish a bifurcated |
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approval procedure under this subchapter, including a phased |
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approach to the approval of a land development application. |
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(b) Each phase of a bifurcated approval procedure adopted |
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under Subsection (a) must be subject to the approval procedures |
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prescribed by this subchapter. |
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(c) An applicant may, but is not required to, opt in to the |
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bifurcated approval procedure established by a municipality under |
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Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 4. Section 212.009, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 212.009. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: INITIAL APPROVAL. (a) The |
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municipal body [authority responsible for approving plats] shall |
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approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a land development |
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application [plan or plat] within 30 days after the date the |
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application [plan or plat] is submitted [filed]. An application [A |
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plan or plat] is approved by the municipal authority unless it is |
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disapproved within that period and in accordance with Section |
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212.0091. |
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(b) If an ordinance requires that a land development |
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application [plan or plat] be approved by the governing body of the |
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municipality in addition to the planning commission, the governing |
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body shall approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the |
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application [plan or plat] within 30 days after the date the |
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application [plan or plat] is approved by the planning commission |
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or is approved by the inaction of the commission. An application [A |
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plan or plat] is approved by the governing body unless it is |
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disapproved within that period and in accordance with Section |
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212.0091. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b), if a |
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groundwater availability certification is required under Section |
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212.0101, the 30-day period described by those subsections begins |
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on the date the applicant submits the groundwater availability |
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certification to the municipal [authority responsible for |
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approving plats or the governing] body [of the municipality, as |
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applicable]. |
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(b-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b), the parties |
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may extend the 30-day period described by those subsections for a |
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period not to exceed 30 days if: |
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(1) the applicant requests the extension in writing to |
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the municipal [authority responsible for approving plats or the |
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governing] body [of the municipality, as applicable]; and |
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(2) the municipal [authority or governing] body[, as |
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applicable,] approves the extension request. |
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(c) If a land development application [plan or plat] is |
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approved, the municipal body [authority giving the approval] shall |
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endorse the application [plan or plat] with a certificate |
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indicating the approval. The certificate must be signed by: |
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(1) the body's [authority's] presiding officer and |
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attested by the body's [authority's] secretary; or |
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(2) a majority of the members of the body [authority]. |
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(d) If the municipal body [authority responsible for |
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approving plats] fails to approve, approve with conditions, or |
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disapprove a land development application [plan or plat] within the |
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prescribed period, the body [authority] on the applicant's request |
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shall issue a certificate stating the date the application [plan or |
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plat] was submitted [filed] and that the body [authority] failed to |
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act on the application [plan or plat] within the period. The |
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certificate is effective in place of the endorsement required by |
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Subsection (c). |
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(e) The municipal body [authority responsible for approving |
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plats] shall maintain a record of each land development application |
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submitted [made] to the body [authority] and the body's |
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[authority's] action taken on it. On request of an owner of an |
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affected tract, the body [authority] shall certify the reasons for |
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the action taken on an application. |
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SECTION 5. Section 212.0091(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A municipal [authority or governing] body that |
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conditionally approves or disapproves a land development |
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application [plan or plat] under this subchapter shall provide the |
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applicant a written statement of the conditions for the conditional |
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approval or reasons for disapproval that clearly articulates each |
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specific condition for the conditional approval or reason for |
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disapproval. |
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SECTION 6. Sections 212.0093, 212.0095, 212.0096, |
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212.0097, and 212.0099, Local Government Code, are amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 212.0093. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPLICANT RESPONSE TO |
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CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL. After the conditional |
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approval or disapproval of a land development application [plan or |
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plat] under Section 212.0091, the applicant may submit to the |
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municipal [authority or governing] body that conditionally |
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approved or disapproved the application [plan or plat] a written |
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response that satisfies each condition for the conditional approval |
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or remedies each reason for disapproval provided. The municipal |
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[authority or governing] body may not establish a deadline for an |
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applicant to submit the response. |
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Sec. 212.0095. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL |
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OF RESPONSE. (a) A municipal [authority or governing] body that |
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receives a response under Section 212.0093 shall determine whether |
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to approve or disapprove the applicant's previously conditionally |
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approved or disapproved land development application [plan or plat] |
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not later than the 15th day after the date the response was |
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submitted. |
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(b) A municipal [authority or governing] body that |
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conditionally approves or disapproves a land development |
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application [plan or plat] following the submission of a response |
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under Section 212.0093: |
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(1) must comply with Section 212.0091; and |
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(2) may disapprove the application [plan or plat] only |
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for a specific condition or reason provided to the applicant under |
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Section 212.0091. |
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(c) A municipal [authority or governing] body that receives |
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a response under Section 212.0093 shall approve a previously |
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conditionally approved or disapproved land development application |
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[plan or plat] if the response adequately addresses each condition |
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of the conditional approval or each reason for the disapproval. |
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(d) A previously conditionally approved or disapproved land |
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development application [plan or plat] is approved if: |
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(1) the applicant submitted [filed] a response that |
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meets the requirements of Subsection (c); and |
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(2) the municipal [authority or governing] body that |
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received the response does not disapprove the application [plan or |
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plat] on or before the date required by Subsection (a) and in |
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accordance with Section 212.0091. |
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Sec. 212.0096. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL |
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PROCESS. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 212.0083, 212.009, 212.0091, |
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212.0093, and 212.0095, an applicant may elect at any time to seek |
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approval for a land development application [plan or plat] under an |
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alternative approval process adopted by a municipality if the |
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process allows for a shorter approval period than the approval |
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process described by Sections 212.0083, 212.009, 212.0091, |
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212.0093, and 212.0095. |
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(b) An applicant that elects to seek approval under the |
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alternative approval process described by Subsection (a) is not: |
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(1) required to satisfy the requirements of Sections |
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212.0083, 212.009, 212.0091, 212.0093, and 212.0095 before |
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bringing an action challenging a disapproval of a land development |
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application [plan or plat] under this subchapter; and |
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(2) prejudiced in any manner in bringing the action |
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described by Subdivision (1), including satisfying a requirement to |
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exhaust any and all remedies. |
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Sec. 212.0097. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: WAIVER PROHIBITED. (a) A |
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municipal [authority responsible for approving plats or the |
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governing] body [of a municipality] may not request or require an |
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applicant to waive a deadline or other approval procedure under |
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this subchapter. |
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(b) An applicant may not waive a deadline or other approval |
|
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procedure or any other provision or requirement under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 212.0099. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DISAPPROVAL. In a legal |
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action challenging a disapproval of a land development application |
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[plan or plat] under this subchapter, the municipality has the |
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burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the |
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disapproval meets the requirements of this subchapter or any |
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applicable case law. The court may not use a deferential standard. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter A, Chapter 232, Local Government |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 232.0001 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 232.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Land development" means an activity relating to |
|
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the development or redevelopment of land, including subdivision |
|
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development, construction of subdivision improvements, site |
|
|
development, and development of on-site and off-site improvements. |
|
|
(2) "Land development application" means an |
|
|
application or other document relating to land development under |
|
|
this chapter that is required to be approved by the commissioners |
|
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court or the court's designee before the land development may |
|
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commence. The term includes a title or description used by counties |
|
|
to refer to those applications or other documents, including |
|
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"preliminary plat," "plat," "final plat," and "replat." The term |
|
|
does not include: |
|
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(A) an application or other document for which |
|
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approval by the commissioners court or the court's designee does |
|
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not authorize the land development to commence; and |
|
|
(B) a subdivision construction plan, subdivision |
|
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engineering plan, or similar or related plan. |
|
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(3) "Required document" means a document required by |
|
|
law for the approval of a land development application. The term |
|
|
includes groundwater availability certifications required under |
|
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Section 232.0032, if applicable. |
|
|
(4) "Submit" means the act by a person of providing, |
|
|
delivering, or relaying by any means a copy of a land development |
|
|
application to the commissioners court or the court's designee. |
|
|
The term includes all variations of the term, including "submitted" |
|
|
and "submitting." The term does not include the acceptance, |
|
|
acknowledgment, receipt, processing, or performance of a |
|
|
completeness check of the land development application or required |
|
|
document or any other action by the commissioners court or the |
|
|
court's designee in response to the submission of a copy of the land |
|
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development application. |
|
|
SECTION 8. Section 232.0023, Local Government Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 232.0023. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPLICABILITY. The land |
|
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development [plat] application approval procedures under this |
|
|
subchapter apply to a county regardless of whether the county has |
|
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entered into an interlocal agreement, including an interlocal |
|
|
agreement between a municipality and county under Section |
|
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242.001(d). |
|
|
SECTION 9. Subchapter A, Chapter 232, Local Government |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Sections 232.00235 and 232.0024 to read |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 232.00235. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND |
|
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CONDITIONAL APPROVAL. (a) A person desiring approval of a land |
|
|
development application may submit required documents with the |
|
|
application or after submitting the application. If the person |
|
|
elects to submit the documents afterwards, the commissioners court |
|
|
or the court's designee may conditionally approve the application |
|
|
on the condition that the applicant submit the documents in |
|
|
accordance with Subsection (c). |
|
|
(b) An election by a person to submit the required documents |
|
|
after submitting a land development application is not grounds for |
|
|
the commissioners court or the court's designee to: |
|
|
(1) refuse to accept, acknowledge, receive, or process |
|
|
the application or documents; |
|
|
(2) disapprove the application or documents; |
|
|
(3) consider the application or documents incomplete; |
|
|
or |
|
|
(4) refuse to comply with the procedures and timelines |
|
|
prescribed for land development applications and required |
|
|
documents under this subchapter with respect to the person's |
|
|
application and documents. |
|
|
(c) The commissioners court or court's designee that |
|
|
conditionally approves a land development application under |
|
|
Subsection (a) must: |
|
|
(1) make an approval determination on each individual |
|
|
required document under the same approval procedures and timelines |
|
|
as those prescribed for a land development application under this |
|
|
subchapter; |
|
|
(2) approve or disapprove, but not conditionally |
|
|
approve, each individual required document; |
|
|
(3) provide to the applicant comments on a required |
|
|
document not later than the 30th day after the date the applicant |
|
|
submits the document; and |
|
|
(4) make an approval determination on a required |
|
|
document not later than the 60th day after the date the applicant |
|
|
submits the document. |
|
|
(d) On disapproval of a required document, an applicant may |
|
|
submit to the commissioners court or the court's designee a written |
|
|
response that remedies each reason for disapproval. The |
|
|
commissioners court or the court's designee may not establish a |
|
|
deadline for the applicant to submit the response. |
|
|
(e) On receipt of a response under Subsection (d), a |
|
|
commissioners court or the court's designee shall determine whether |
|
|
to approve or disapprove the applicant's previously disapproved |
|
|
required document not later than the 15th day after the date the |
|
|
applicant submits the response. |
|
|
Sec. 232.0024. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: BIFURCATED APPROVAL. |
|
|
(a) After receiving a request from at least five applicants and |
|
|
conducting a public hearing on the matter at which interested |
|
|
parties must be heard, a county shall establish a bifurcated |
|
|
approval procedure under this subchapter, including a phased |
|
|
approach to the approval of a land development application. |
|
|
(b) Each phase of a bifurcated approval procedure adopted |
|
|
under Subsection (a) must be subject to the approval procedures |
|
|
prescribed by this subchapter. |
|
|
(c) An applicant may, but is not required to, opt in to the |
|
|
bifurcated approval procedure established by a county under |
|
|
Subsection (a). |
|
|
SECTION 10. The heading to Section 232.0025, Local |
|
|
Government Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 232.0025. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: TIMELY APPROVAL OF |
|
|
APPLICATIONS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS [PLATS AND PLANS]. |
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SECTION 11. Section 232.0025, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), |
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and (i) and adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (b-3) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The commissioners court of a county or a person |
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designated by the commissioners court shall issue a written list or |
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publication of the required documents [documentation] and other |
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information that must be submitted with a land development [plat] |
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application. The documentation or other information must relate to |
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a requirement authorized under this section or other applicable law |
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and have been adopted as a requirement by the county by order. An |
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application submitted to the commissioners court or the person |
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designated by the commissioners court that contains the documents |
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and other information on the list is considered complete. |
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(b) If a person submits a land development [plat] |
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application to the commissioners court that does not include all of |
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the required documents [documentation] or other information |
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required by Subsection (a), the commissioners court or the court's |
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designee shall, not later than the 10th business day after the date |
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the commissioners court receives the application, notify the |
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applicant of the missing documents or other information. The |
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commissioners court shall allow an applicant to timely submit the |
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missing documents or other information. |
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(b-1) Except as provided by Section 232.0032, a |
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commissioners court or the court's designee may not require a |
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person to submit a required document or fulfill any other |
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prerequisites or conditions before the person submits a copy of a |
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land development application. |
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(b-2) A commissioners court or the court's designee may not |
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require a person to submit new or additional required documents for |
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which the requirements of Subsection (a) have not been met. |
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(b-3) A commissioners court or the court's designee may not, |
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on the grounds that a person has failed to submit for a land |
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development application a required document for which the |
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requirements of Subsection (a) have not been met: |
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(1) refuse to accept, acknowledge, receive, or process |
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the application or other required documents; |
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(2) disapprove the application or other required |
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documents; |
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(3) consider the application or other required |
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documents incomplete; or |
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(4) refuse to comply with the procedures and timelines |
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prescribed for land development applications and required |
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documents under this subchapter with respect to the application and |
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documents. |
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(c) An application is considered complete when all required |
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documents [documentation] or other information required by |
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Subsection (a) is received. Acceptance by the commissioners court |
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or the court's designee of a completed land development [plat] |
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application with the required documents [documentation] or other |
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information required by Subsection (a) shall not be construed as |
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approval of the documentation or other information. |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (f), the commissioners |
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court or the court's designee shall approve, approve with |
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conditions, or disapprove a land development [plat] application not |
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later than the 30th day after the date the completed application is |
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received by the commissioners court or the court's designee. An |
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application is approved by the commissioners court or the court's |
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designee unless the application is disapproved within that period |
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and in accordance with Section 232.0026. |
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(f) The 30-day period under Subsection (d): |
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(1) may be extended for a period not to exceed 30 days, |
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if: |
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(A) requested and agreed to in writing by the |
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applicant and approved by the commissioners court or the court's |
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designee; or |
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(B) Chapter 2007, Government Code, requires the |
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county to perform a takings impact assessment in connection with |
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the land development [plat] application; and |
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(2) applies only to a decision wholly within the |
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control of the commissioners court or the court's designee. |
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(g) The commissioners court or the court's designee shall |
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make the determination under Subsection (f)(1) of whether the |
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30-day period will be extended not later than the 20th day after the |
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date a completed land development [plat] application is received by |
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the commissioners court or the court's designee. |
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(h) The commissioners court or the court's designee may not |
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require an applicant to waive the time limits or approval procedure |
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contained in this subchapter. An applicant may not waive the time |
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limits or approval procedures contained in this subchapter. |
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(i) If the commissioners court or the court's designee fails |
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to approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove a land |
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development [plat] application as required by this subchapter: |
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(1) the commissioners court shall refund the greater |
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of the unexpended portion of any application fee or deposit or 50 |
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percent of an application fee or deposit that has been paid; |
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(2) the application is granted by operation of law; |
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and |
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(3) the applicant may apply to a district court in the |
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county where the tract of land is located for a writ of mandamus to |
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compel the commissioners court to issue documents recognizing the |
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land development [plat] application's approval. |
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SECTION 12. Section 232.0026(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A commissioners court or designee that conditionally |
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approves or disapproves of a land development [plat] application |
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under this subchapter shall provide the applicant a written |
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statement of the conditions for the conditional approval or the |
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reasons for disapproval that clearly articulates each specific |
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condition for the conditional approval or reason for disapproval. |
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SECTION 13. Sections 232.0027 and 232.0028, Local |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 232.0027. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPLICANT RESPONSE TO |
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CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL. After the conditional |
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approval or disapproval of a land development [plat] application |
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under Section 232.0026, the applicant may submit to the |
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commissioners court or designee that conditionally approved or |
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disapproved the application a written response that satisfies each |
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condition for the conditional approval or remedies each reason for |
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disapproval provided. The commissioners court or designee may not |
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establish a deadline for an applicant to submit the response. |
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Sec. 232.0028. APPROVAL PROCEDURE: APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL |
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OF RESPONSE. (a) A commissioners court or designee that receives a |
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response under Section 232.0027 shall determine whether to approve |
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or disapprove the applicant's previously conditionally approved or |
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disapproved land development [plat] application not later than the |
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15th day after the date the response was submitted under Section |
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232.0027. |
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(b) A commissioners court or designee that conditionally |
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approves or disapproves a land development [plat] application |
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following the submission of a response under Section 232.0027: |
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(1) must comply with Section 232.0026; and |
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(2) may disapprove the application only for a specific |
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condition or reason provided to the applicant for the original |
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application under Section 232.0026. |
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(c) A commissioners court or designee that receives a |
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response under Section 232.0027 shall approve a previously |
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conditionally approved or disapproved land development [plat] |
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application if the applicant's response adequately addresses each |
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condition for the conditional approval or each reason for the |
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disapproval. |
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(d) A previously conditionally approved or disapproved land |
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development [plat] application is approved if: |
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(1) the applicant submitted [filed] a response that |
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meets the requirements of Subsection (c); and |
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(2) the commissioners court or designee that received |
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the response does not disapprove the application on or before the |
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date required by Subsection (a) and in accordance with Section |
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232.0026. |
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SECTION 14. Section 232.0029, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 232.0029. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DISAPPROVAL. In a legal |
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action challenging a disapproval of a land development [plat] |
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application under this subchapter, the county has the burden of |
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proving by clear and convincing evidence that the disapproval meets |
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the requirements of this subchapter or any applicable case law. The |
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court may not use a deferential standard. |
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SECTION 15. Section 212.001(2), Local Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 16. The changes in law made by this Act apply only |
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to a land development application submitted on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An application submitted before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 17. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |