Bill Text: TX HB3943 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 537; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, or taxes.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/13 [HB3943 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB3943-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 3943
 
 
 
 
  relating to the creation of the Harris County Municipal Utility
  District No. 537; granting a limited power of eminent domain;
  providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose
  assessments, fees, or 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 8488 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 8488.  HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 537
  SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8488.001.  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 Harris County Municipal
  Utility District No. 537.
         Sec. 8488.002.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a
  municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
  Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 8488.003.  CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTORS' 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. 8488.004.  CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
  temporary directors may not hold an election under Section 8488.003
  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. 8488.005.  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, or improvement of
  macadamized, graveled, or paved roads described by Section 54.234,
  Water Code, or improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of
  those roads.
         Sec. 8488.006.  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. 8488.051.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS.  (a)  The district is
  governed by a board of five elected directors.
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 8488.052, directors serve
  staggered four-year terms.
         Sec. 8488.052.  TEMPORARY DIRECTORS.  (a)  The temporary
  board consists of:
               (1)  Michael Keegan;
               (2)  Russ Bynum;
               (3)  Denise Traylor;
               (4)  Darryl Robinson; and
               (5)  Deborah Yahner.
         (b)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
               (1)  the date permanent directors are elected under
  Section 8488.003; or
               (2)  September 1, 2017.
         (c)  If permanent directors have not been elected under
  Section 8488.003 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 8488.003; 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. 8488.101.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district has
  the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
  which the district is created.
         Sec. 8488.102.  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. 8488.103.  AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. (a)  Under
  Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may
  design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, and
  convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for operation and
  maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads described by
  Section 54.234, Water Code, or improvements, including storm
  drainage, in aid of those roads.
         (b)  The district may exercise the powers provided by this
  section without submitting a petition to or obtaining approval from
  the commission as required by Section 54.234, Water Code.
         Sec. 8488.104.  APPROVAL OF ROAD PROJECT.  (a)  The district
  may not undertake a road project authorized by Section 8488.103
  unless:
               (1)  each municipality or county that will operate and
  maintain the road has approved the plans and specifications of the
  road project, if a municipality or county will operate and maintain
  the road; or
               (2)  the Texas Transportation Commission has approved
  the plans and specifications of the road project, if the state will
  operate and maintain the road.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (a), the district is
  not required to obtain approval from the Texas Transportation
  Commission to design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for,
  improve, or convey a road project.
         Sec. 8488.105.  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.
         Sec. 8488.106. LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. The
  district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the
  district to acquire a site or easement for:
               (1)  a road project authorized by Section 8488.103; or
               (2)  a recreational facility as defined by Section
  49.462, Water Code.
  SUBCHAPTER D.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8488.151.  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 8488.153.
         (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. 8488.152.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.  (a)  If
  authorized at an election held under Section 8488.151, 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. 8488.153.  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. 8488.201.  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. 8488.202.  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. 8488.203.  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 Harris County Municipal Utility District No.
  537 initially includes all the territory contained in the following
  area:
  BEGINNING at a point in the North right-of-way line of Old Katy Road
  (80 feet wide), said point marks the Southwest corner of that
  certain called 0.6339 acre tract recorded under Harris County
  Clerk's File No. 20100020050 and the herein described tract;
  THENCE, North 01°14'41" West, at 100.00 feet pass the Southeast
  corner of Unrestricted Reserve "A", Resource Centre, LTD, Subd., as
  recorded in Vol. 314, Pg. 111 H.C.M.R. and continuing a total
  distance of 1280.76 feet to a point in the South line of a tract of
  land conveyed to Southern Pacific Railroad Co., by deed recorded
  under H.C.C.F. No. B960751, for the Northeast corner of said
  Reserve "A", said point also marks the Northwest corner of the
  herein described tract;
  THENCE, North 88°01'36" East, along the South line of said Southern
  Pacific Railroad Co. tract, a distance of 551.31 feet to an angle
  point;
  THENCE, North 87°59'38" East, continuing along the South line of
  said Southern Pacific Railroad Co. tract, a distance of 312.54 feet
  to an angle point;
  THENCE, North 88°17'24" East, a distance of 68.60 feet to a point in
  the Southwest right-of-way line of Southern Pacific Transportation
  Co. Railroad (100 feet wide), for the Northeast corner of the herein
  described tract;
  THENCE, South 51°45'21" East, along the Southwest right-of-way line
  of said Southern Pacific R.R., a distance of 857.52 feet to a point
  for the Point of Curvature of a curve to the Right;
  THENCE, in a Southeasterly direction, continuing along the
  Southwest line of said Southern Pacific R.R., with said curve to the
  Right having a radius of 905.00 feet, a central angle of 46°24'58",
  an arc length of 733.15 and a chord bearing and distance of S
  27°13'25" E, 713.27 feet to a point for the Point of Tangency;
  THENCE, South 01°14'53" East, along the West line of said Southern
  Pacific R.R., a distance of 50.00 feet to a point for the Easterly
  most Southeast corner of the herein described tract;
  THENCE, South 88°45'07" West, a distance of 198.86 feet to a point
  for an interior corner;
  THENCE, South 01°14'53" East, a distance of 50.00 feet to a point in
  the North right-of-way line of said Old Katy Road for the Southeast
  corner of that certain called 0.5825 acre tract (Tr. 2, Pt. 6)
  recorded under H.C.C.F. No. 20100020050, said point also marks the
  Southeast corner of the herein described tract;
  THENCE, South 88°45'07" West, along the North right-of-way line of
  Old Katy Road, a distance of 1714.87 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING
  and containing 46.750 acres of land, more or less.
         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) Section 8488.106, Special District Local
  Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, takes effect only if
  this Act receives a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to
  each house.
         (b)  If this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the
  members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter 8488, Special
  District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is
  amended by adding Section 8488.106 to read as follows:
         Sec. 8488.106.  NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
  not exercise the power of eminent domain.
         (c)  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 September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3943 was passed by the House on May
  14, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3943 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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