Bill Text: TX SB1788 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to county energy transportation reinvestment zones.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-06 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB1788 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1788-Comm_Sub.html

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By: Uresti S.B. No. 1788
(In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2015; March 24, 2015, read
first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;
April 30, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9,
Nays 0; April 30, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to county energy transportation reinvestment zones.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 222.1071(b), (f), (i), and (m),
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) A county, after determining that an area is affected
because of oil and gas exploration and production activities and
would benefit from funding under Chapter 256, by order or
resolution of the commissioners court:
(1) may designate a contiguous geographic area in the
jurisdiction of the county to be a county energy transportation
reinvestment zone to promote one or more transportation
infrastructure projects, as that term is defined by Section
256.101, located in the county [zone]; and
(2) may jointly administer a county energy
transportation reinvestment zone with a contiguous county energy
transportation reinvestment zone formed by another county.
(f) The order or resolution designating an area as a county
energy transportation reinvestment zone must:
(1) describe the boundaries of the zone with
sufficient definiteness to identify with ordinary and reasonable
certainty the territory included in the zone;
(2) provide that the zone takes effect immediately on
adoption of the order or resolution designating an area and that the
base year shall be the year of passage of the order or resolution
designating an area or some year in the future;
(3) establish an ad valorem tax increment account for
the zone or provide for the establishment of a joint ad valorem tax
increment account, if applicable; and
(4) if two or more counties are designating a zone for
the same transportation infrastructure project or projects,
include a finding that:
(A) the project or projects will benefit the
property and residents located in the counties [zone];
(B) the creation of the zone will serve a public
purpose of the county; and
(C) details the transportation infrastructure
projects for which each county is responsible.
(i) The county may:
(1) use money in the tax increment account to provide:
(A) matching funds under Section 256.105; and
(B) funding for one or more transportation
infrastructure projects located in the county [zone];
(2) apply for grants under Subchapter C, Chapter 256[,
subject to Section 222.1072];
(3) use five percent of any grant distributed to the
county under Subchapter C, Chapter 256, for the administration of a
county energy transportation reinvestment zone, not to exceed
$250,000;
(4) enter into an agreement to provide for the joint
administration of county energy transportation reinvestment zones
if the commissioners court of the county has designated a county
energy transportation reinvestment zone under this section for the
same transportation infrastructure project or projects as another
county commissioners court; and
(5) pledge money in the tax increment account to a road
utility district formed as provided by Subsection (n).
(m) The commissioners court of a county may enter into an
agreement with the department to designate a county energy
transportation reinvestment zone under this section for a specified
transportation infrastructure project involving a state highway
located in the county [proposed zone].
SECTION 2. Section 222.1072(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A county may create [is eligible to apply for a grant
under Subchapter C, Chapter 256, if the county creates] an advisory
board to advise the county on the establishment, administration,
and expenditures of a county energy transportation reinvestment
zone. The county commissioners court shall determine the terms and
duties of the advisory board members.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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