H.B. No. 2275
AN ACT
relating to creating a task force to develop uniform standards for
subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of counties near the
international border and in economically distressed counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the current law
regarding the regulation of subdivisions in the unincorporated
areas of counties near the international border and in economically
distressed counties should be reviewed to ensure that statutory
provisions are consistent and clearly achieve the goals of
promoting uniform subdivision standards in those counties and
enhancing the quality of living for the residents of those
subdivisions.
SECTION 2. (a) The Task Force on Uniform County Subdivision
Regulation is composed of 23 members as follows:
(1) six members who are county officials or employees
responsible for regulating subdivisions under Subchapter B,
Chapter 232, Local Government Code, appointed by the executive
administrator of the Texas Water Development Board from each of the
following counties:
(A) El Paso;
(B) Webb;
(C) Starr;
(D) Hidalgo;
(E) Cameron; and
(F) Nueces;
(2) six members who are members of organizations that
represent the interests of colonia residents, appointed by the
executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs;
(3) three members who are county officials or
employees responsible for regulating subdivisions under Subchapter
C, Chapter 232, Local Government Code, appointed by the executive
administrator of the Texas Water Development Board;
(4) one member who is a representative of the Texas
Water Development Board and is appointed by the executive
administrator of the board;
(5) one member who has legal expertise in subdivision
regulation appointed by the attorney general to represent the
interests of the state;
(6) the secretary of state or a designee of the
secretary of state who has expertise in matters affecting colonias;
(7) three members who are appointed by the president
of the Texas Association of Builders to represent the interests of
builders and land developers;
(8) one member who is a representative of the Texas
Conference of Urban Counties appointed by the executive director of
that organization; and
(9) one member who is a representative of the County
Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas appointed by the
president of that association.
(b) The members of the Task Force on Uniform County
Subdivision Regulation shall elect a presiding officer, a
secretary, and any other officers the members consider necessary.
(c) Appointments to the Task Force on Uniform County
Subdivision Regulation shall be made without regard to race, color,
disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the
appointees.
(d) A member of the task force who is a state or county
employee is not entitled to additional compensation for serving on
the task force, but is entitled to reimbursement for the member's
actual and necessary expenses in attending meetings of the task
force and performing other official duties authorized by the
presiding officer if the reimbursement is otherwise available to
the member as a state or county employee. A member of the task force
may not be paid compensation or reimbursement for travel or other
expenses from state funds unless the legislature makes a specific
appropriation for that purpose.
(e) The Texas Water Development Board shall provide
administrative support to the task force, including necessary staff
and meeting facilities. The Texas Water Development Board may
require the task force to conduct meetings at a location that is
geographically convenient to a majority of the members of the task
force or in various geographic regions of the state.
(f) The task force, through the Texas Water Development
Board, may accept gifts and grants from individuals, private or
public organizations, or federal or local funds to support the task
force.
(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
task force.
SECTION 3. The Task Force on Uniform County Subdivision
Regulation shall:
(1) research and identify the conflicts and
deficiencies in current law regarding the regulation of the
development of subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of counties
near the international border and in economically distressed
counties; and
(2) develop recommendations and draft a proposal for
legislation to create uniform standards for the regulation of the
development of subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of counties
near the international border and in economically distressed
counties.
SECTION 4. Not later than December 1, 2010, the Task Force
on Uniform County Subdivision Regulation shall submit its findings,
recommendations, and proposal for legislation to the standing
committees of the senate and house of representatives having
primary jurisdiction over border regions or county affairs.
SECTION 5. The Task Force on Uniform County Subdivision
Regulation is abolished and this Act expires on September 2, 2011.
SECTION 6. 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, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2275 was passed by the House on March
31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 2275 on May 23, 2009, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 2275 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 118,
Nays 27, 1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2275 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 20, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays
0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
2275 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor