Texas 2011 82nd Regular

Texas House Bill HB3030 Comm Sub / Bill

                    82R21066 TRH-F
 By: McClendon H.B. No. 3030
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3030:
 By:  Martinez C.S.H.B. No. 3030


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the funding of projects in the boundaries of an
 intermunicipal commuter rail district.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 173.002, Transportation Code, is amended
 by adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows:
 (2-a) "Commuter rail service" means the transportation
 of passengers and baggage by rail between locations in a district.
 SECTION 2.  Sections 173.256(b), (d), and (e),
 Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (b)  A district may enter into an interlocal contract with
 one or more [a] local government members [member] for the financing
 of transportation infrastructure that is constructed or that is to
 be constructed in the territory of the local governments
 [government] by the district.
 (d)  The agreement may establish one or more transportation
 infrastructure zones, which may consist of a contiguous or
 noncontiguous geographic area in the territory of one or more local
 governments.  The district and the local government may agree that,
 at one or more specified times, the local government will pay to the
 district an amount that is calculated on the basis of increased ad
 valorem tax collections in a zone that are attributable to
 increased values of property located in the zone resulting from an
 infrastructure project.  The amount may not exceed an amount that
 is equal to [30 percent of] the increase in ad valorem tax
 collections in the zone for the specified period.
 (e)  Money received by the district under this section may be
 used:
 (1)  to provide a local match for the acquisition of
 right-of-way in the territory of the local government; [or]
 (2)  for design, construction, operation, or
 maintenance of transportation facilities in the territory of the
 local government; or
 (3)  to acquire property rights for underdeveloped
 lands in the transportation infrastructure zone to be preserved for
 the benefit of the public.
 SECTION 3.  Subchapter G, Chapter 173, Transportation Code,
 is amended by adding Sections 173.305 and 173.306 to read as
 follows:
 Sec. 173.305.  TAX INCREMENT FUND FOR TRANSPORTATION
 INFRASTRUCTURE ZONE. The district shall establish a tax increment
 fund.  In addition to the amount of tax increment deposited to the
 tax increment fund, all revenue from the sale of tax increment bonds
 or notes under Section 173.306, revenue from the sale of any
 property acquired as part of a plan adopted to use tax increment
 financing, and other revenue to be used in implementing the plan
 shall be deposited in the tax increment fund for the zone.
 Sec. 173.306.  TAX INCREMENT BONDS AND NOTES ISSUED BY LOCAL
 GOVERNMENT MEMBER. (a) A local government member of a district
 creating a transportation infrastructure zone may issue tax
 increment bonds or notes, including refunding bonds, secured by
 revenue in the local government's tax increment fund.  Proceeds of
 bonds issued under this section may be used to:
 (1)  pay project costs for the zone on behalf of which
 the bonds or notes were issued; or
 (2)  satisfy claims of holders of the bonds or notes.
 (b)  Tax increment bonds and notes are payable, as to both
 principal and interest, solely from the tax increment fund
 established for the transportation infrastructure zone. The local
 government may pledge irrevocably all or part of the fund for
 payment of tax increment bonds or notes. The part of the fund
 pledged in payment may be used only for the payment of the bonds or
 notes or interest on the bonds or notes until the bonds or notes
 have been fully paid. A holder of the bonds or notes or of coupons
 issued on the bonds has a lien against the fund for payment of the
 bonds or notes and interest on the bonds or notes and may protect or
 enforce the lien at law or in equity.
 (c)  A tax increment bond or note is not a general obligation
 of the local government issuing the bond or note. A tax increment
 bond or note does not give rise to a charge against the general
 credit or taxing powers of the local government and is not payable
 except as provided by this section.
 (d)  A local government's obligation to deposit sales and use
 taxes into the tax increment fund is not a general obligation of the
 local government.  An obligation to make payments from sales and
 use taxes does not give rise to a charge against the general credit
 or taxing powers of the local government and is not payable except
 as provided by this section.  A tax increment bond or note issued
 under this section that pledges payments must state the
 restrictions of this section on its face.
 (e)  A tax increment bond or note may not be included in any
 computation of the debt of the issuing local government.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.