By: Creighton S.B. No. 1959
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  Relating to the provision of parks and recreational facilities by
  water districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 49.4645(a), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A district all or part of which is located in Bastrop
  County, Bexar County, Waller County, Travis County, Williamson
  County, Harris County, Galveston County, Brazoria County,
  Montgomery County, or Fort Bend County may issue bonds supported by
  ad valorem taxes to pay for the development and maintenance of
  recreational facilities only if the bonds are authorized by a
  majority vote of the voters of the district voting in an election
  held for that purpose. Except for a district that is exempt from the
  commission rule requiring developer cost participation in district
  construction projects or for bonds supported by contract taxes
  under Section 49.108, the [The] outstanding principal amount of
  bonds, notes, and other obligations issued to finance parks and
  recreational facilities supported by ad valorem taxes may not
  exceed an amount equal to one percent of the value of the taxable
  property in the district [or, if supported by contract taxes under
  Section 49.108, may not exceed an amount equal to one percent of the
  value of the taxable property in the districts making payments
  under the contract] as shown by the tax rolls of the central
  appraisal district at the time of the issuance of the bonds, notes,
  and other obligations or an amount greater than the estimated cost
  provided in the park plan under Subsection (b), whichever is
  smaller. To establish the value of the taxable property in a
  district under this section, the district may use an estimate of the
  value provided by the central appraisal district. The district may
  not issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to pay for the
  development and maintenance of:
               (1)  indoor or outdoor swimming pools; or
               (2)  golf courses.
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.016(e), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  A city may provide in its written consent to the
  inclusion of land in a district, that the district construct all
  facilities to serve the land in accordance with plans and
  specifications which have been approved by the city. The city may
  also provide in its written consent that the city shall have the
  right to inspect all facilities being constructed by a district.
  The city's consent to the inclusion of land in the district may also
  contain restrictions on the terms and provisions of the district's
  bonds and notes issued to provide service to the land and conditions
  on the sale of the district's bonds and notes if the restrictions
  and conditions do not generally render the bonds and notes of
  districts in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction
  unmarketable. The city's consent to the inclusion of land in a
  district may restrict the purposes for which a district may issue
  bonds to those [the] purposes authorized by law for the district [of
  the purchase, construction, acquisition, repair, extension and
  improvement of land, easements, works, improvements, facilities,
  plants, equipment and appliances necessary to:
               (1)  provide a water supply for municipal uses,
  domestic uses and commercial purposes;
               (2)  collect, transport, process, dispose of and
  control all domestic, industrial or communal wastes whether in
  fluid, solid or composite state; and
               (3)  gather, conduct, divert and control local storm
  water or other local harmful excesses of water in the district and
  the payment of organization expenses, operation expenses during
  construction and interest during construction].
         SECTION 3.  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, 2021.