87R7315 SLB-F
 
  By: Creighton S.B. No. 1892
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Lake Houston Dredging and
  Maintenance District; providing the authority to issue bonds;
  providing authority to impose assessments and fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle L, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended by adding Chapter 9602 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 9602. LAKE HOUSTON DREDGING AND MAINTENANCE DISTRICT
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 9602.0101.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the board of directors of the
  district.
               (2)  "Director" means a member of the board of
  directors of the district.
               (3)  "District" means the Lake Houston Dredging and
  Maintenance District.
         Sec. 9602.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
  conservation and reclamation district created under and essential
  to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution.
         Sec. 9602.0103.  FINDINGS OF BENEFIT AND PUBLIC PURPOSE.
  (a) The district is created to serve a public use and benefit.
         (b)  All land and other property in the boundaries of the
  district will benefit from the works and projects accomplished by
  the district under the powers conferred by Section 59, Article XVI,
  Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 9602.0104.  DISTRICT TERRITORY. Unless the district
  territory has been modified under Subchapter J, Chapter 49, Water
  Code, or other law, the boundaries of the district are coextensive
  with the boundaries of Harris County.
  SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
         Sec. 9602.0201.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district is
  governed by a board of directors appointed as follows:
               (1)  three directors appointed by the Harris County
  Commissioners Court; 
               (2)  three directors appointed by the city council of
  the City of Houston; and
               (3)  the board's presiding officer, appointed jointly
  by the county judge of Harris County and the mayor of the City of
  Houston.
         (b)  Directors serve staggered four-year terms.
  SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
         Sec. 9602.0301.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. Except as
  provided by this chapter, the district has the powers and duties
  applicable to a district under Chapter 49, Water Code.
         Sec. 9602.0302.  SPECIFIC POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) In this
  section, "dredging and maintenance operations" includes the
  removal of:
               (1)  sediment and debris from under the water; and
               (2)  floating debris.
         (b)  The district shall perform dredging and maintenance
  operations on Lake Houston. The district may form interlocal
  agreements with political subdivisions, corporate entities, or
  other persons to perform dredging and maintenance operations on
  Lake Houston.
         (c)  The district may seek from any source a grant of money,
  equipment, or another resource to assist the district's dredging
  and maintenance operations.
         Sec. 9602.0303.  LIMITATION ON POWERS. The district may
  not:
               (1)  finance, develop, or maintain a recreational
  facility under Subchapter N, Chapter 49, Water Code;
               (2)  exercise the power of eminent domain; or
               (3)  perform the same function as another conservation
  and reclamation district whose territory overlaps with the
  territory of the district.
  SUBCHAPTER D. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 9602.0401.  AUTHORITY TO ISSUE REVENUE BONDS. (a) The
  district may issue bonds payable from and secured by district
  revenue to carry out any power conferred by this chapter. The bonds
  must be authorized by a board resolution.
         (b)  The bonds must be issued in the manner and under the
  terms of the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds.
         Sec. 9602.0402.  PROHIBITION ON TAXATION. The district may
  not impose an ad valorem tax.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Harris
  County Commissioners Court, the city council of the City of
  Houston, the county judge of Harris County, and the mayor of the
  City of Houston shall appoint the initial members of the board of
  the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District as required by
  Section 9602.0201, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by
  this Act.
         (b)  At the first meeting of the board of directors of the
  Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District, the directors shall
  draw lots to determine which four directors serve a term of four
  years and which three directors serve a term of two years.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  The legal notice of the intention to
  introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
  Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
  copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
  officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
  under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
  Government Code.
         (b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has
  submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
         (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
  its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives within the required time.
         (d)  All requirements of the constitution and 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.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.