By: Coleman H.B. No. 4508
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creation and duties of a county economic development
district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Heading of Chapter 383 of Title 12 of the Local
Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 383. COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.
SECTION 2. Section 383.001, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 383.002. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. This chapter furthers
the public purpose of developing and diversifying the economy of
this state by providing incentives for the location and development
of projects in certain counties to promote economic development and
to attract visitors and tourists.
SECTION 3. Section 383.003, Local Government Code, amends
Subsections (a) and (c) to read as follows:
Sec. 383.003. FINDINGS. (a) Small and medium-sized
Counties in this state need incentives for the development of
public improvements and projects to promote economic development
and to attract visitors and tourists to those counties, and those
counties are at a disadvantage in competing with counties in other
states for the location and development of projects that attract
visitors by virtue of the availability and prevalent use of
financial incentives in other states.
(c) The creation of economic development districts is
essential to the accomplishment of Section 52-a, Article III, Texas
Constitution, and to the accomplishment of the other public
purposes stated in this chapter and further serves the purpose of
Section 59, Article XVI, and Section 52, Article III, Texas
Constitution.
SECTION 4. Section 383.021, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 383.021. COUNTIES AUTHORIZED TO CREATE DISTRICTS.
(a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of
400,000 or less, on petition of the owners of land in a proposed
district, may commence the creation of a county economic
development district.
SECTION 5. Section 383.023(2), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) include a name for the proposed district, which
must include the name of the county followed by the words "Economic
Development District No.______";.
SECTION 6. Section 383.033(b), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or
against the proposition: "The creation of ____________ County
Economic Development District No. _____ and the adoption of a
proposed local sales and use tax rate of _____ (the rate specified
in the election order) to be used for the promotion and development
of tourism and economic development."
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.