Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1646 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

Download
.pdf .doc .html
                            By: Uresti S.B. No. 1646


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the powers and duties of a defense base management
 authority.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.
 SUBCHAPTER O. DEFENSE ADJUSTMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
 Sec. 375.301.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSES. (a) The
 legislature finds that:
 (1)  the closure of certain defense bases has had a
 negative impact on the economic development of the areas within the
 former defense bases and the areas in the general vicinity of the
 former defense bases and that the creation of the specific type of
 authority provided for in this subchapter is essential to
 accomplish the purposes of Sections 52 and 52-a, Article III, and
 Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution;
 (2)  it is an appropriate role for a municipality to
 foster economic opportunity, job generation, and capital
 investment by promoting a favorable business climate, preparing the
 workforce for productive employment, and supporting infrastructure
 development in areas around defense bases that are intended to be
 annexed by the municipality; and
 (3)  the programs designed to create a competent and
 qualified workforce are essential both to the economic growth and
 vitality of many municipalities in this state and to the
 elimination of unemployment and underemployment in those
 municipalities.
 (b)  The programs authorized by this subchapter are in the
 public interest, promote the economic welfare of this state, and
 serve the public purpose of developing and diversifying the economy
 of this state and of eliminating unemployment and underemployment
 in this state.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Sec. 375.302.  CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This
 subchapter shall be liberally construed in conformity with the
 findings and purposes stated in Section 375.301.
 (b)  Except as provided by this subchapter, the other
 provisions of this chapter apply to an authority created under this
 subchapter.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Sec. 375.303.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
 (1)  "Authority" means a defense adjustment management
 authority created under this subchapter.
 (2)  "Eligible project" means a program authorized by
 Section 379A.051 and a project as defined by Section 501.002 and
 Sections  505.151-505.156.  Notwithstanding this definition,
 seeking a charter for or operating an open-enrollment charter
 school authorized by Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code,
 shall not be an eligible project.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Amended by:  Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 885, Sec. 3.22, eff.
 April 1, 2009.
 Sec. 375.304.  ELIGIBILITY FOR CREATION BY MUNICIPALITY.
 (a) The governing body of a municipality by resolution or ordinance
 may create an authority in an area that is:
 (1)  in the same county as a military installation or
 facility that is:
 (A)  closed or realigned under the Defense Base
 Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. Section 2687 note)
 and its subsequent amendments; or
 (B)  a base efficiency project as defined by
 Section 379B.001; and
 (2)  in an area that has been annexed or disannexed for
 full or limited purposes under Subchapter F, Chapter 43, by a
 municipality with a population of at least 1.1 1.19 million or is in
 the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality with a
 population of at least 1.1 1.19 million and that has been annexed
 for limited purposes by the municipality under Subchapter F,
 Chapter 43.
 (b)  Subchapter B and Sections 375.041 and 375.042 do not
 apply to this subchapter.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Amended by:  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 334, Sec. 1, eff. June 17,
 2005.
 Sec. 375.305.  HEARING ON CREATION OF AUTHORITY. (a) Not
 earlier than the 60th day or later than the 30th day before the date
 the governing body of the municipality creates the authority, the
 governing body of the municipality shall hold two public hearings
 to consider the creation of the proposed authority. The
 municipality must publish notice of each public hearing in a
 newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed
 authority at least seven days before each public hearing.
 (b)  The notice required by Subsection (a) must state:
 (1)  the name of the proposed authority;
 (2)  the date, time, and place for the public hearing;
 (3)  the boundaries of the proposed authority,
 including a map of the proposed authority; and
 (4)  the powers of the proposed authority, including
 the power to levy assessments and to impose a sales and use tax.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Amended by:  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 334, Sec. 2, eff. June 17,
 2005.
 Sec. 375.306.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) The board consists
 of 15 directors.
 (b)  The municipality shall appoint six members of the board.
 (c)  The county in which the municipality is primarily
 located shall appoint six members of the board.
 (d)  School districts whose boundaries overlap with an
 authority by 5,000 or more acres shall collectively appoint three
 members of the board.
 (e)  Except for the presiding officer, directors are
 appointed for terms of two years.  Terms of directors may be
 staggered, and directors may serve successive terms.
 (f)  A vacancy on the board is filled for the unexpired term
 by the governing body of the entity that appointed the director who
 served in the vacant position.
 (g)  The mayor of the municipality and the county judge of
 the county in which the authority is primarily located shall,
 alternately, appoint one director to serve as presiding officer,
 with the first appointment to be made by the mayor of the
 municipality. The presiding officers shall serve for a term of four
 years beginning on January 1 of the year following the appointment.
 The board may elect an assistant presiding officer to preside in the
 absence of the presiding officer or when there is a vacancy in that
 office. The board may elect other officers as it considers
 appropriate.
 (h)  Sections 375.061, 375.066, and 375.068 and the
 limitations of Section 375.072(c) do not apply to this subchapter.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Amended by:  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 334, Sec. 3, eff. June 17,
 2005.
 Sec. 375.307.  QUALIFICATIONS OF DIRECTORS. (a) Except as
 provided by Subsection (b), a majority of the directors of an
 authority must meet the qualifications of Section 375.063.
 (b)  Representatives or agents of a school district whose
 boundaries overlap with an authority or of an institution of higher
 education that operates facilities within an authority may serve on
 the board.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Sec. 375.308.  POWERS OF THE AUTHORITY; MUNICIPALITY. (a)
 An authority:
 (1)  may plan, design, implement, develop, construct,
 and finance eligible projects as defined in this subchapter; and
 (2)  has the powers of a municipality under Chapter
 378, as added by Chapter 1221, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular
 Session, 1999, and Chapter 380.
 (b)  An authority may not:
 (1)  issue bonds or notes without the prior approval of
 the governing body of the municipality that created the authority;
 (2)  seek a charter for or operate, within the
 boundaries of the authority, an open-enrollment charter school
 authorized by Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code; or
 (3)  levy ad valorem property taxes.
 (c)  A municipality may not seek a charter for or operate an
 open-enrollment charter school authorized by Subchapter D, Chapter
 12, Education Code, within the boundaries of the authority.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Sec. 375.3085.  ANNEXATION OR DISANNEXATION. (a) The board
 may vote to annex or disannex territory to an authority.
 (b)  Not earlier than the 60th or later than the 30th day
 before the date the board votes on the annexation or disannexation,
 the board shall hold two public hearings to consider the annexation
 or disannexation.  The board must publish notice of each public
 hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the
 proposed annexed or disannexed territory at least seven days before
 each public hearing.
 (c)  The notice must state:
 (1)  the date, time, and place for the public hearing;
 and
 (2)  the amended boundaries of the authority, including
 a map of the proposed annexation or disannexation of territory in
 the authority.
 (d)  If the board approves the proposed annexation or
 disannexation, the board shall submit the action to the governing
 body of the municipality for approval.  The annexation or
 disannexation takes effect on the date the governing body of the
 municipality approves the annexation or disannexation by
 ordinance.
 (e)  Section 375.043 does not apply to the authority.
 Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 334, Sec. 4, eff. June 17, 2005.
 Sec. 375.309.  MUNICIPAL ANNEXATION OF AREA IN AN AUTHORITY.
 (a) A municipality that creates an authority under this subchapter
 may annex all or part of the territory located in the authority
 under Chapter 43.
 (b)  Annexation of territory located in the authority does
 not affect the operation of the authority.
 (c)  Creation of an authority does not:
 (1)  affect the power of the municipality to designate
 all or part of an area in the authority as an industrial authority;
 (2)  limit a power of the municipality conferred by
 Chapter 42; or
 (3)  impose a duty on or affect the power of the
 municipality to provide municipal services to any area in the
 municipality or its extraterritorial jurisdiction that is in the
 authority.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Sec. 375.310.  AUTHORITY PLAN. (a) An authority may only
 develop or construct public improvements or eligible projects in
 areas designated in an authority plan approved by the board and the
 governing body of the municipality that created the authority.
 (b)  The plan must include the information required for a
 municipal reinvestment zone under Sections 311.011(b) and (c), Tax
 Code, for the area of the authority.  For the purposes of applying
 those sections, the area of the authority affected constitutes a
 zone.
 (c)  The authority shall generate the plan based on the
 economic development needs of the property owners and constituents
 in the authority.
 (d)  After approval by the board, the authority shall submit
 the plan to the municipality for approval.  Before taking action to
 approve or reject the plan, the municipality shall make a copy of
 the proposed plan available to the public and hold hearings and
 publish notice of the hearings in the manner required by Section
 375.305.  The notice of the public hearings must state where a copy
 of the proposed plan is available for inspection.
 (e)  The board may amend and submit the approved plan to the
 governing body of the municipality for approval.
 (f)  Before approving the authority's plan or any amendment,
 the municipality shall publish notice and hold hearings as required
 by Subsection (d).
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Amended by:  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 334, Sec. 5, eff. June 17,
 2005.
 Sec. 375.311.  SALES AND USE TAX. (a) An authority may
 impose a sales and use tax to support or finance public
 infrastructure projects and eligible projects authorized under
 this subchapter if the tax is authorized by a majority of the
 qualified voters of the authority voting at an election held for
 that purpose in the manner provided by Sections 375.241 and
 375.242.
 (b)  If an authority adopts the tax authorized by Subsection
 (a), a tax is imposed on the receipts from the sale at retail of
 taxable items within the authority at the rate approved by the
 voters. The rate must be equal to one-eighth, one-fourth,
 three-eighths, or one-half of one percent.
 (c)  Chapter 321, Tax Code, governs the imposition,
 computation, administration, governance, and abolition of a tax
 imposed under this section.
 (d)  If any territory in the authority is annexed by the
 municipality, the municipality's sales and use tax applies in the
 annexed area. If the authority's sales and use tax rate, when
 combined with any other sales and use tax applicable in the
 authority, exceeds two percent, the authority's sales and use tax
 is abolished upon annexation.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Sec. 375.312.  ZONING AND PLANNING. (a) An authority has
 the power of a municipality under Chapters 211 and 212 in the area
 of the authority, including an area of the authority that is in the
 boundaries of a municipality's limited purpose jurisdiction.  On
 annexation of an area of the authority for full purposes by a
 municipality, the authority's power to regulate the area under
 Chapter 211 or 212 expires.  The authority regains the power in an
 area if the municipality disannexes the area.
 (b)  The board may divide the authority into distinct areas
 as provided by Section 211.005 to accomplish the purposes of this
 chapter and Chapter 211.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Amended by:  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 334, Sec. 6, eff. June 17,
 2005.
 Sec. 375.313.  REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS. (a) An
 authority may enter into regional development agreements with its
 creating municipality, other municipalities, counties, school
 districts, institutions of higher education, other political
 subdivisions, and private interests to:
 (1)  promote and advance long-term economic
 development in the authority; or
 (2)  achieve the purposes for the authority's creation
 and to implement the powers provided to the authority under this
 chapter.
 (b)  An authority, a municipality, a school district whose
 boundary overlaps with a portion of an authority, or an institution
 of higher education may enter into an agreement to:
 (1)  fund improvements to school facilities and teacher
 compensation of school districts or institutions of higher
 education in the authority; and
 (2)  develop programs provided for in Section 379A.051.
 (c)  Any agreement entered into with a school district under
 this section shall be designed in such a way that the school
 district funding under Title 2, Education Code, shall be not less
 than the school district would have received had the school
 district not entered into the agreement. This provision may be
 waived by a school district board of trustees by specific action
 suspending the provisions of this subsection.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 Sec. 375.314.  DISSOLUTION OF THE AUTHORITY. (a) The
 governing body of the municipality that created an authority under
 this subchapter may dissolve the authority.
 (b)  Before dissolution, the municipality shall publish
 notice and hold public hearings on the proposed dissolution in the
 manner provided in Section 375.305.
 (c)  On dissolution, the municipality shall assume the
 assets, debts, and other obligations of the authority.
 (d)  Subchapter M does not apply to this subchapter.
 Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 961, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
 SECTION 2.  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, 2011.