Bill Text: TX HB4696 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 240; 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) 2019-06-10 - Effective immediately [HB4696 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB4696-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 4696

AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility
District No. 240; 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 8347 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 8347. FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 240
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8347.0101. 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. 240.
Sec. 8347.0102. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8347.0103. 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. 8347.0104. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
8347.0103 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. 8347.0105. 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. 8347.0106. 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. 8347.0201. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district is
governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 8347.0202, directors
serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 8347.0202. 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 8347.0103; 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 8347.0103 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 8347.0103; 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. 8347.0301. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district
has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
which the district is created.
Sec. 8347.0302. 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. 8347.0303. 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. 8347.0304. 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. 8347.0305. 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.
Sec. 8347.0306. DIVISION OF DISTRICT. (a) The district may
be divided into two or more new districts only if the district:
(1) has never issued any bonds; and
(2) is not imposing ad valorem taxes.
(b) This chapter applies to any new district created by the
division of the district, and a new district has all the powers and
duties of the district.
(c) A new district created by the division of the district
may not, at the time the new district is created, contain any land
outside the area described by Section 2 of the Act enacting this
chapter.
(d) The board, on its own motion or on receipt of a petition
signed by the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed value of
the real property in the district, may adopt an order dividing the
district.
(e) The board may adopt an order dividing the district
before or after the date the board holds an election under Section
8347.0103 to confirm the creation of the district.
(f) An order dividing the district shall:
(1) name each new district;
(2) include the metes and bounds description of the
territory of each new district;
(3) appoint temporary directors for each new district;
and
(4) provide for the division of assets and liabilities
between the new districts.
(g) On or before the 30th day after the date of adoption of
an order dividing the district, the district shall file the order
with the commission and record the order in the real property
records of each county in which the district is located.
(h) A new district created by the division of the district
shall hold a confirmation and directors' election as required by
Section 8347.0103.
(i) If the creation of the new district is confirmed, the
new district shall provide the election date and results to the
commission.
(j) Any new district created by the division of the district
must hold an election as required by this chapter to obtain voter
approval before the district may impose a maintenance tax or issue
bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes.
(k) Municipal consent to the creation of the district and to
the inclusion of land in the district granted under Section
8347.0104 acts as municipal consent to the creation of any new
district created by the division of the district and to the
inclusion of land in the new district.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8347.0401. 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 8347.0403.
(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. 8347.0402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 8347.0401, 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. 8347.0403. 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. 8347.0501. 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. 8347.0502. 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. 8347.0503. 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. 240 initially includes all the territory contained in the
following area:
TRACT 1 - 203.50 ACRES
Being a 203.50 acre tract of land out of the Randolph Foster
League, Abstract 28, and the Thomas Westfall League, Abstract 92
and the Noel F. Roberts League, Abstract 79 Fort Bend County, Texas;
said 203.50 acre tract of land being more particularly described by
metes and bounds as follows:
COMMENCING at the Northwest corner of Thomas Westfall League,
Abstract 92; THENCE North 89° 53' 37" East with the common line of
said Foster League and said Westfall League, 1645.89 feet to a point
in the East right-of-way line of F.M. 1489 for the POINT OF
BEGINNING of the herein tract of land;
THENCE with said East right-of-way line, along the arc of a
curve to the right, having a radius of 2166.91 feet, a central angle
of 01° 46' 20", an arc length of 67.02 feet, and a chord bearing
North 04° 34' 23" East, 67.02 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE South 88° 56' 17" East, 4353.01 feet to a point for
corner in the centerline of Big Bayou (Bessie's Creek);
THENCE with the meanders of said centerline as follows:
- South 46° 57' 47" East, 639.50 feet to a point for corner;
- South 49° 22' 47" East, 386.90 feet to a point for corner;
- South 68° 19' 37" East, 544.00 feet to a point for corner;
- South 23° 42' 07" East, 440.41 feet to a point for corner;
- South 22° 08' 03" West, 221.91 feet to a point for corner;
- South 53° 41' 23" West, 287.12 feet to a point for corner;
- North 86° 22' 00" West, 2.51 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE South 00° 43' 33" West, 136.84 feet to a point for
corner in the West right-of-way line of Vernon Frost Road;
THENCE with said West right-of-way line as follows:
- South 13° 55' 15" West, 116.39 feet to a point for corner;
- South 00° 01' 45" East, 883.80 feet to a point for corner;
- South 52° 29' 11" West, 41.12 feet to a point for corner in
the North right-of-way line of said Vernon Frost Road;
THENCE with said North right-of-way line as follows:
- North 83° 31' 42" West, 2367.99 feet to a point for corner;
- South 64° 33' 59" West, 248.96 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE North 04° 02' 15" West, 982.17 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 05° 25' 55" East, 275.65 feet to a point for
corner in the aforementioned centerline of Big Bayou;
THENCE with the meanders of said centerline as follows:
- South 73° 53' 23" West, 212.50 feet to a point for corner;
- South 56° 15' 13" West, 133.89 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE North 01° 05' 23" East, 948.59 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 88° 57' 42" West, 2,489.02 feet to a point for
corner in the aforementioned east right-of-way line of F.M. 1489;
THENCE with said East right-of-way as follows:
- North 03° 01' 27" West, 312.88 feet to a point for corner
and the beginning of a curve to the right;
- Along the arc of said curve to the right, having a radius
of 2166.91 feet, a central angle of 06° 42' 40", an arc length of
253.82 feet, and a chord bearing North 00° 19' 53" East, 253.67 feet
to the POINT OF BEGINNING; containing 203.50 acres of land, more or
less.
TRACT 2 - 47.74 ACRES
Being a 47.74 acre tract of land out of the Thomas Westfall
League, Abstract 92 Fort Bend County, Texas; said 47.74 acre tract
of land being more particularly described by metes and bounds as
follows:
COMMENCING at a point in the East line of said Thomas Westfall
League, Abstract 92 and being in the South right-of-way line of
Vernon Frost Road; THENCE North 83° 31' 43" West with said South
right-of-way line, 979.03 feet to a point in the West line of a
Roadway for Ingress and Egress and Utilities and for the POINT OF
BEGINNING of the herein tract of land;
THENCE South 20° 02' 44" West with said West line, 1452.74
feet to a point for corner;
THENCE North 83° 42' 22" West, 930.30 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE South 22° 36' 17" West, 8.24 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE South 71° 32' 11" West, 1961.02 to a point for corner in
the East right-of-way line of F.M. 1489;
THENCE North 33° 39' 18" West with said East right-of-way
line, 694.24 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE North 64° 33' 59" East, 1369.17 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE South 83° 31' 43" East, 1324.09 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 06° 28' 17" East, 883.00 feet to a point for
corner in the South right-of-way line of the aforementioned Vernon
Frost Road;
THENCE South 83° 31' 43" East with said South right-of-way
line, 23.23 to the POINT OF BEGINNING; containing 47.74 acres of
land, more or less.
TRACT 3 - 10.95 ACRES
Being a 10.95 acre tract of land out of the Thomas Westfall
League, Abstract 92 Fort Bend County, Texas; said 10.95 acre tract
of land being more particularly described by metes and bounds as
follows:
COMMENCING at a point in the East line of said Thomas Westfall
League, Abstract 92 and being in the South right-of-way line of
Vernon Frost Road; THENCE North 83° 31' 43" East with said South
right-of-way line, 30.19 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING of the
herein tract of land;
THENCE South 00° 05' 00" West, 593.27 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 83° 31' 42" West, 694.99 feet to a point for
corner in the East line of a Roadway for Ingress and Egress and
Utilities;
THENCE North 20° 02' 44" West with said East line, 658.90 feet
to a point for corner in the South right-of-way line of the
aforementioned Vernon Frost Road;
THENCE South 83° 31' 43" East with said South right-of-way
line, 923.16 to the POINT OF BEGINNING; containing 10.95 acres of
land, more or less.
TRACT 4 - 84.60 ACRES
Being a 95.93 acre tract of land out of the Randolph Foster
League, Abstract 28, and the Thomas Westfall League, Abstract 92
Fort Bend County, Texas; said 95.93 acre tract of land being more
particularly described by metes and bounds as follows:
COMMENCING at the Northwest corner of Thomas Westfall League,
Abstract 92; THENCE North 89° 53' 37" East with the common line of
said Foster League and said Westfall League, 1645.89 feet to a point
in the East right-of-way line of F.M. 1489;
THENCE with said East right-of-way line, along the arc of a
curve to the right, having a radius of 2166.91 feet, a central angle
of 01° 46' 20", an arc length of 67.02 feet, and a chord bearing
North 04° 34' 23" East, 67.02 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING of the
herein tract of land;
THENCE with said East right-of-way line, along the arc of a
curve to the right, having a radius of 2166.91 feet, a central angle
of 05° 49' 38", an arc length of 220.39 feet, and a chord bearing
North 08° 22' 23" East, 220.29 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE North 10° 25' 33" East, 567.79 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 42° 48' 13" East, 161.59 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 89° 49' 13" East, 776.80 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 89° 50' 13" East, 1300.00 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 89° 47' 53" East, 1493.99 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE South 05° 13' 23" West, 121.36 feet to a point for
corner in the centerline of Big Bayou (Bessie's Creek);
THENCE with the meanders of said centerline as follows:
- South 20° 06' 37" East, 255.79 feet to a point for corner;
- South 33° 09' 07" East, 391.61 feet to a point for corner;
- South 39° 30' 39" East, 386.36 feet to a point for corner;
- South 46° 57' 47" East, 639.50 feet to a point for corner;
- South 49° 22' 47" East, 386.90 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE South 40° 37' 13" West, 400.00 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 49° 22' 47" West, 395.34 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 46° 57' 47" West, 700.28 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 39° 00' 27" West, 342.84 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 88° 56' 17" West, 3825.88 feet to the POINT OF
BEGINNING; containing 95.93 acres of land more or less;
SAVE AND EXCEPT an 11.33 acre tract of land being more
particularly described by metes and bounds as follows:
COMMENCING at a point in the East right-of-way for the
Southwest corner of said 95.93 acre tract of land; Thence South 88°
56' 17 East, 3825.88 feet to the PLACE OF BEGINNING;
THENCE South 88° 56' 17" East, 527.13 feet to a point for
corner in the centerline of Big Bayou (Bessie's Creek);
THENCE with the meanders of said centerline as follows:
- South 46° 57' 47" East, 639.50 feet to a point for corner;
- South 49° 22' 47" East, 386.90 feet to a point for corner;
THENCE South 40° 37' 13" West, 400.00 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 49° 22' 47" West, 395.34 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 46° 57' 47" West, 700.28 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE North 39° 00' 27" West, 342.84 to the POINT OF
BEGINNING; containing 11.33 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) If this Act does not receive a two-thirds
vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter
8347, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
this Act, is amended by adding Section 8347.0307 to read as follows:
Sec. 8347.0307. 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. 4696 was passed by the House on May 3,
2019, by the following vote: Yeas 125, Nays 15, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 4696 was passed by the Senate on May
21, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor