Bill Text: TX HB3422 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 231; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-24 - Effective immediately [HB3422 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB3422-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 3422

AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility
District No. 231; granting a limited power of eminent domain;
providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose
assessments, fees, and taxes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8070 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 8070. FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 231
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8070.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the district's board of directors.
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(3) "Director" means a board member.
(4) "District" means the Fort Bend County Municipal
Utility District No. 231.
Sec. 8070.0102. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8070.0103. CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTOR ELECTION
REQUIRED. The temporary directors shall hold an election to
confirm the creation of the district and to elect five permanent
directors as provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
Sec. 8070.0104. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
8070.0103 until each municipality in whose corporate limits or
extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located has
consented by ordinance or resolution to the creation of the
district and to the inclusion of land in the district.
Sec. 8070.0105. FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT.
(a) The district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit.
(b) The district is created to accomplish the purposes of:
(1) a municipal utility district as provided by
general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and
(2) Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, that
relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation,
or maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
Sec. 8070.0106. INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. (a) The
district is initially composed of the territory described by
Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter.
(b) The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of
the Act enacting this chapter form a closure. A mistake made in the
field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process
does not affect the district's:
(1) organization, existence, or validity;
(2) right to issue any type of bond for the purposes
for which the district is created or to pay the principal of and
interest on a bond;
(3) right to impose a tax; or
(4) legality or operation.
SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 8070.0201. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district is
governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 8070.0202, directors
serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 8070.0202. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) On or after the
effective date of the Act enacting this chapter, the owner or owners
of a majority of the assessed value of the real property in the
district may submit a petition to the commission requesting that
the commission appoint as temporary directors the five persons
named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as temporary
directors the five persons named in the petition.
(b) Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 8070.0103; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the effective date of
the Act enacting this chapter.
(c) If permanent directors have not been elected under
Section 8070.0103 and the terms of the temporary directors have
expired, successor temporary directors shall be appointed or
reappointed as provided by Subsection (d) to serve terms that
expire on the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under
Section 8070.0103; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the date of the
appointment or reappointment.
(d) If Subsection (c) applies, the owner or owners of a
majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district
may submit a petition to the commission requesting that the
commission appoint as successor temporary directors the five
persons named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as
successor temporary directors the five persons named in the
petition.
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 8070.0301. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district
has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
which the district is created.
Sec. 8070.0302. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND
DUTIES. The district has the powers and duties provided by the
general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code,
applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59,
Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8070.0303. AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Under Section
52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may design,
acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate,
maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for
operation and maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
Sec. 8070.0304. ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) A
road project must meet all applicable construction standards,
zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulations of each
municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial
jurisdiction the road project is located.
(b) If a road project is not located in the corporate limits
or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, the road
project must meet all applicable construction standards,
subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which
the road project is located.
(c) If the state will maintain and operate the road, the
Texas Transportation Commission must approve the plans and
specifications of the road project.
Sec. 8070.0305. COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT
ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION. The district shall comply with all
applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution that is
adopted under Section 54.016 or 54.0165, Water Code, and that
consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
in the district.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8070.0401. ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS. (a)
The district may issue, without an election, bonds and other
obligations secured by:
(1) revenue other than ad valorem taxes; or
(2) contract payments described by Section 8070.0403.
(b) The district must hold an election in the manner
provided by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to obtain voter approval
before the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds
payable from ad valorem taxes.
(c) The district may not issue bonds payable from ad valorem
taxes to finance a road project unless the issuance is approved by a
vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting at an
election held for that purpose.
Sec. 8070.0402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 8070.0401, the
district may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable
property in the district in accordance with Section 49.107, Water
Code.
(b) The board shall determine the tax rate. The rate may not
exceed the rate approved at the election.
Sec. 8070.0403. CONTRACT TAXES. (a) In accordance with
Section 49.108, Water Code, the district may impose a tax other than
an operation and maintenance tax and use the revenue derived from
the tax to make payments under a contract after the provisions of
the contract have been approved by a majority of the district voters
voting at an election held for that purpose.
(b) A contract approved by the district voters may contain a
provision stating that the contract may be modified or amended by
the board without further voter approval.
SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 8070.0501. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER
OBLIGATIONS. The district may issue bonds or other obligations
payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact fees,
revenue, contract payments, grants, or other district money, or any
combination of those sources, to pay for any authorized district
purpose.
Sec. 8070.0502. TAXES FOR BONDS. At the time the district
issues bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, the
board shall provide for the annual imposition of a continuing
direct ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, while all
or part of the bonds are outstanding as required and in the manner
provided by Sections 54.601 and 54.602, Water Code.
Sec. 8070.0503. BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. At the time of
issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations
issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from ad
valorem taxes may not exceed one-fourth of the assessed value of the
real property in the district.
SECTION 2. The Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District
No. 231 initially includes all the territory contained in the
following area:
Being a 309.21 acre tract of land located in the H. & T. C. R.R. Co.
Survey, Section 85, Abstract No. 247 and H. & T. C. R.R. Co. Survey,
Section 90, Abstract No. 507 in Fort Bend County, Texas; said
309.21 acre tract being all of the remainder of a called 100-acre
tract of land conveyed to Henry Fuchs in Clerk's File Number
2015129371 of the Official Public Records of Fort Bend County
(O.P.R.F.B.C.), all of the remainder of a called 209-acre tract of
land conveyed to Carl F. Fischer and wife, Diane Fischer, and Donald
H. Fischer and wife, Sherry Fischer in Volume 875, Page 55 of the
Fort Bend County Deed Records (F.B.C.D.R.), and a portion of
Wernecke Road (60-feet wide); said 309.21 acre tract being more
particularly described by metes and bounds as follows (all bearings
are referenced to the Texas Coordinate System, North American Datum
1983 (NAD 83), South Central Zone);
Beginning at an iron stake found at the most southerly corner of
said 209-acre tract and the most westerly corner of a called 50.0-
acre tract of land recorded in the name of M.T. Cyplik in Clerk's
File No. 9769464 of the O.P.R.F.B.C. and being on the northeasterly
right-of-way line of Meyer Road (40.00 feet wide);
1. Thence, with the southwesterly line of said 209-acre
tract and said northeasterly right-of-way line of Meyer Road, North
48 degrees 09 minutes 38 seconds West, a distance of 1,741.90 feet
to a 5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped "COSTELLO INC" found at the
most westerly corner of this 309.21-acre tract, being on the
southeasterly right-of-way line of Wernecke Road (60.00 feet wide);
2. Thence, with the northwesterly line of said 209-acre
tract and said southeasterly right-of-way line of Wernecke Road,
North 41 degrees 51 minutes 19 seconds East, a distance of 2643.75
feet;
3. Thence, North 47 degrees 53 minutes 47 seconds West, at
30.00-feet pass the south corner of aforesaid 100-acre tract and
the east corner of a called 61.09-acre tract recorded in Clerk's
File Number 2006081947 of the O.P.R.F.B.C. and being the centerline
of said Wernecke Road, in all a total distance of 1,700.74 feet to
an axel found for the west corner of said called 100-acre tract and
the south corner of a called 108.1-acre tract of land recorded in
Clerk's File Number 2014019607 of the O.P.R.F.B.C.;
4. Thence, with the common line of said called 100-acre
tract and said called 108.1-acre tract, North 41 degrees 49 minutes
16 seconds East, a distance of 2,571.79 feet to a 1-1/2-inch iron
pipe found on the southwesterly right-of-way line of FM 360
(Beasley-Needville Road, 80.00 feet wide per TxDOT right-of-way map
of FM 360, CSJ No. 527-6-6, dated August 19, 1968);
5. Thence, with said southwesterly right-of-way line of FM
360, South 47 degrees 57 minutes 06 seconds East, a distance of
3,447.86 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped "COSTELLO INC"
found on the southeasterly line of said 209-acre tract, being the
most northerly corner of a called 49.9822 acre tract of land
recorded in the name of Jose A. Tejada in C.F. No. 2005115202 of the
O.P.R.F.B.C., from which a found eye-bolt bears South 41 degrees 53
minutes 44 seconds West, a distance of 0.71 feet;
6. Thence, with said southwesterly line of the 209-acre
tract, the northeasterly line of said 49.9822-acre tract, and the
northeasterly line of aforesaid 50.0-acre tract, South 41 degrees
53 minutes 44 seconds West, a distance of 5,210.82 feet to the Point
of Beginning and containing 309.21 acres of land.
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. (a) If this Act does not receive a two-thirds
vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter
8070, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
this Act, is amended by adding Section 8070.0306 to read as follows:
Sec. 8070.0306. NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
not exercise the power of eminent domain.
(b) 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. 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, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3422 was passed by the House on
April 18, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 1,
2
present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3422 was passed by the Senate on
May 10, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor