Bill Text: TX HB1900 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 83-3)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-01 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB1900 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB1900-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 1900
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal
  police departments.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  ARTICLE 1. DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITY DETERMINATION
         SECTION 1.01.  Subtitle A, Title 4, Local Government Code,
  is amended by adding Chapter 109 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 109.  DETERMINATION OF DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITIES
         Sec. 109.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "division"
  means the criminal justice division of the office of the governor.
         Sec. 109.002.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter
  applies only to a municipality with a population of more than
  250,000.
         Sec. 109.003.  DEFUNDING DETERMINATION. Except as provided
  by Section 109.004, a defunding municipality is a municipality:
               (1)  that adopts a budget for a fiscal year that, in
  comparison to the municipality's preceding fiscal year, reduces the
  appropriation to the municipality's police department; and
               (2)  for which the division issues a written
  determination finding that the municipality has made the reduction
  described by Subdivision (1).
         Sec. 109.0035.  INITIAL DETERMINATION.  In making a
  determination of whether a municipality is a defunding municipality
  under Section 109.003 according to the budget adopted for the first
  fiscal year beginning on or after September 1, 2021, the division
  shall compare the appropriation to the municipality's police
  department in that budget to the appropriation to that department
  in the budget of the preceding fiscal year or the second preceding
  fiscal year, whichever is greater. This section applies to the
  budget adopted for the municipality's first fiscal year beginning
  on or after September 1, 2021, regardless of the date of adoption.
  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         Sec. 109.004.  EXCEPTIONS. (a) A municipality is not
  considered to be a defunding municipality under Section 109.003 if:
               (1)  for a fiscal year in which the municipality adopts
  a budget that is less than the budget for the preceding fiscal year,
  the percentage reduction to the appropriation to the municipality's
  police department does not exceed the percentage reduction to the
  total budget; or
               (2)  before the adoption of a budget, the municipality
  applies for and is granted approval from the division for a
  reduction to the appropriation to the municipality's police
  department to account for:
                     (A)  capital expenditures related to law
  enforcement during the preceding fiscal year;
                     (B)  the municipality's response to a state of
  disaster declared under Section 418.014, Government Code; or
                     (C)  another reason approved by the division.
         (b)  For purposes of making a determination of whether a
  municipality is a defunding municipality under this chapter, a
  municipality's appropriation to the municipality's police
  department does not include:
               (1)  any grant money received by the municipality
  during any fiscal year; or
               (2)  any sales and use tax revenue received by the
  municipality for the purpose of financing a crime control and
  prevention district under Chapter 363.
         Sec. 109.005.  TERMINATION OF DEFUNDING DETERMINATION.  A
  municipality's defunding determination under Section 109.003
  continues until the division issues a written determination finding
  that the municipality has reversed the reduction, adjusted for
  inflation, described by Section 109.003(1).
         Sec. 109.006.  DIVISION DUTIES.  (a)  The division shall:
               (1)  compute the inflation rate used to make
  determinations under Section 109.005 each state fiscal year using a
  price index that accurately reports changes in the purchasing power
  of the dollar for municipalities in this state; and
               (2)  publish the inflation rate in the Texas Register.
         (b)  The division shall adopt rules establishing the
  criteria the division uses to approve reductions under Section
  109.004(2).
  ARTICLE 2. ANNEXATION BY AND DISANNEXATION FROM DEFUNDING
  MUNICIPALITIES
         SECTION 2.01.  Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 43.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 43.004.  ANNEXATION BY DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITY
  PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION. (a) In this section, "defunding
  municipality" means a home-rule municipality that is considered to
  be a defunding municipality under Chapter 109.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a defunding
  municipality may not annex an area during the period beginning on
  the date that the criminal justice division of the governor's
  office issues the written determination that the municipality is a
  defunding municipality and ending on the 10th anniversary of the
  date on which the criminal justice division of the governor's
  office issues a written determination in accordance with Section
  109.005 finding that the defunding municipality has reversed the
  reduction described by Section 109.003(1).
         (c)  This section does not apply to a defunding municipality
  annexing all or part of an area under Section 43.0116 that was
  designated an industrial district under Section 42.044(b) or the
  subject of an agreement under Section 42.044(c) as of January 1,
  2021.
         SECTION 2.02.  Subchapter G, Chapter 43, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 43.1465 to read as follows:
         Sec. 43.1465.  DISANNEXATION FROM DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITY.
  (a) In this section, "defunding municipality" means a home-rule
  municipality that is considered to be a defunding municipality
  under Chapter 109.
         (b)  On the next uniform election date that occurs after the
  date on which the criminal justice division of the governor's
  office issues a written determination that a municipality is a
  defunding municipality and the time required by Section 3.005,
  Election Code, the defunding municipality shall hold a separate
  election in each area annexed in the preceding 30 years by the
  defunding municipality on the question of disannexing the area.
         (c)  The defunding municipality shall immediately by
  ordinance disannex an area for which a majority of the votes
  received in the election held under Subsection (b) favor
  disannexation.
         (d)  If an area is disannexed under Subsection (c), the
  defunding municipality may not attempt to annex the area before the
  10th anniversary of the date on which the criminal justice division
  of the governor's office issues a written determination in
  accordance with Section 109.005 finding that the defunding
  municipality has reversed the reduction described by Section
  109.003(1).
         (e)  A defunding municipality holding an election under
  Subsection (b) may not use public funds on informational campaigns
  relating to the election.
  ARTICLE 3. TAX REVENUE AND DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITIES
         SECTION 3.01.  Chapter 26, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Sections 26.0444 and 26.0501 to read as follows:
         Sec. 26.0444.  TAX RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR DEFUNDING
  MUNICIPALITY. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Defunding municipality" means a municipality
  that is considered to be a defunding municipality for the current
  tax year under Chapter 109, Local Government Code.
               (2)  "Municipal public safety expenditure adjustment"
  means an amount equal to the positive difference, if any, between:
                     (A)  the amount of money appropriated for public
  safety in the budget adopted by the municipality for the preceding
  fiscal year; and
                     (B)  the amount of money spent by the municipality
  for public safety during the period for which the budget described
  by Paragraph (A) is in effect.
         (b)  The no-new-revenue maintenance and operations rate for
  a defunding municipality is decreased by the rate computed
  according to the following formula:
         Municipal Public Safety Expenditure Adjustment / (Current
  Total Value - New Property Value)
         (c)  A defunding municipality shall provide a notice of the
  decrease in the no-new-revenue maintenance and operations rate
  provided by this section in the information published under Section
  26.04(e) and, as applicable, in the notice prescribed by Section
  26.06 or 26.061.
         (d)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), the amount of money
  appropriated for public safety and the amount of money spent by the
  municipality for public safety does not include:
               (1)  any grant money received by the municipality
  during any fiscal year; or
               (2)  any sales and use tax revenue received by the
  municipality for the purpose of financing a crime control and
  prevention district under Chapter 363, Local Government Code,
  during any fiscal year.
         Sec. 26.0501.  LIMITATION ON TAX RATE OF DEFUNDING
  MUNICIPALITY. (a) In this section, "defunding municipality" means
  a municipality that is considered to be a defunding municipality
  for the current tax year under Chapter 109, Local Government Code.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or
  other law, the governing body of a defunding municipality may not
  adopt a tax rate for the current tax year that exceeds the lesser of
  the defunding municipality's no-new-revenue tax rate or
  voter-approval tax rate for that tax year.
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), if a municipality is
  determined to be a defunding municipality according to the budget
  adopted by the municipality for the first fiscal year beginning on
  or after September 1, 2021, the governing body of the defunding
  municipality may not adopt a tax rate for the current year that
  exceeds the least of the defunding municipality's no-new-revenue
  tax rate or voter-approval tax rate for that tax year, the preceding
  tax year, or the second preceding tax year. This subsection expires
  September 1, 2023.
         (c)  For purposes of making the calculation required under
  Section 26.013, in a tax year in which a municipality is a defunding
  municipality, the difference between the municipality's actual tax
  rate and voter-approval tax rate is considered to be zero.
         SECTION 3.02.  Subchapter F, Chapter 321, Tax Code, is
  amended by adding Section 321.5025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 321.5025.  DISTRIBUTION OF TRUST FUNDS TO DEFUNDING
  MUNICIPALITY. (a) In this section, "defunding municipality" means
  a municipality that is considered to be a defunding municipality
  for the current state fiscal year under Chapter 109, Local
  Government Code.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 321.502, the comptroller may
  not, before July 1 of each state fiscal year, send to a defunding
  municipality its share of the taxes collected by the comptroller
  under this chapter during the state fiscal year. Before sending the
  defunding municipality its share of the taxes, the comptroller
  shall deduct the amount reported to the comptroller for the
  defunding municipality under Subsection (c) and credit that
  deducted amount to the general revenue fund. Money credited to the
  general revenue fund under this subsection may be appropriated only
  to the Department of Public Safety.
         (c)  Not later than August 1 of each state fiscal year, the
  criminal justice division of the governor's office shall report to
  the comptroller for each defunding municipality the amount of money
  the state spent in that state fiscal year to provide law enforcement
  services in that defunding municipality.
  ARTICLE 4. RETIREMENT FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEFUNDING
  MUNICIPALITIES
         SECTION 4.01.  Chapter 810, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 810.006 to read as follows:
         Sec. 810.006.  MINIMUM RETIREMENT FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR
  DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITIES. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Defunding municipality" means a municipality
  that is considered to be a defunding municipality under Chapter
  109, Local Government Code.
               (2)  "Public retirement system" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 802.001.
         (b)  This section applies only to a municipality that is:
               (1)  an employer of active members of a public
  retirement system administering a defined benefit plan; and
               (2)  a defunding municipality.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other law and as soon as practicable
  after the date the criminal justice division of the office of the
  governor issues a written determination under Section 109.003(2),
  Local Government Code, with respect to a municipality, the
  municipality shall for the purpose of funding retirement benefits
  increase municipal contributions to a public retirement system in
  which its employees participate as members in a manner that ensures
  that the total amount the municipality and members contribute to
  the system for the fiscal year on which the determination is based
  is not less than the total amount the municipality and members of
  the system contributed to the system for the fiscal year
  immediately preceding the fiscal year on which the determination is
  based.
         (d)  A municipality subject to this section shall increase
  contributions in the manner provided by Subsection (c) for each
  fiscal year for which the municipality is considered a defunding
  municipality.
  ARTICLE 5. MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES IN DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITIES
         SECTION 5.01.  Subchapter B, Chapter 33, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 33.0211 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.0211.  RATES AND FEES CHARGED BY CERTAIN MUNICIPALLY
  OWNED UTILITIES. (a) This section applies only to a municipally
  owned utility that is located in a municipality that is considered
  to be a defunding municipality under Chapter 109, Local Government
  Code.
         (b)  The governing body of a municipally owned utility may
  not charge a customer:
               (1)  at a rate higher than the rate the customer was
  charged or would have been charged on January 1 of the year that the
  municipality was determined to be a defunding municipality;
               (2)  any customer fees in amounts higher than the
  customer fees the customer was charged or would have been charged on
  January 1 of the year that the municipality was determined to be a
  defunding municipality; or
               (3)  any types of customer fees that the customer was
  not charged or would not have been charged on January 1 of the year
  that the municipality was determined to be a defunding
  municipality.
         (c)  If a municipally owned utility has not transferred funds
  to the defunding municipality described by Subsection (a) in the
  immediately preceding 12 months, the municipally owned utility may
  increase its rates to account for:
               (1)  pass-through charges imposed by a state regulatory
  body or the independent organization certified under Section
  39.151;
               (2)  fuel, hedging, or wholesale power cost increases;
  or
               (3)  to fulfill debt obligations or comply with Chapter
  1502, Government Code.
         (d)  A municipally owned utility that increases rates under
  this Subsection (c) may not transfer funds to the defunding
  municipality described by Subsection (a) until the date the
  criminal justice division of the governor's office issues a written
  determination in accordance with Section 109.005, Local Government
  Code, finding that the municipality described by Subsection (a) has
  reversed the reduction described by Section 109.003(1), Local
  Government Code.
  ARTICLE 6. TRANSITION PROVISIONS; EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 6.01.  Chapter 109, Local Government Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a budget adopted for a fiscal year that
  begins on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of the
  date of adoption.
         SECTION 6.02.  Sections 26.0444 and 26.0501, Tax Code, as
  added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2021 tax year, except
  that Section 26.0444(c), Tax Code, as added by this Act, does not
  apply for the 2021 tax year.
         SECTION 6.03.  Section 321.5025, Tax Code, as added by this
  Act, applies only to a distribution of municipal sales and use tax
  revenue to a municipality in a state fiscal year that begins on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 6.04.  (a) Section 33.0211, Utilities Code, as
  added by this Act, applies only to a proceeding for the
  establishment of rates for which the governing body of a
  municipally owned utility has not issued a final order or decision
  before the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  A proceeding for which the governing body of a
  municipally owned utility has issued a final order or decision
  before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
  effect immediately before that date, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.05.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1900 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 90, Nays 49, 4 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1900 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 88, Nays 57,
  1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1900 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 24, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 23, Nays
  3, 4 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor       
feedback