84R17183 DDT-D By: Johnson H.B. No. 1626 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1626: By: Longoria C.S.H.B. No. 1626 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the designation of certain areas as banking or credit union development districts to encourage the establishment of branches of banks or credit unions in those areas. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle Z, Title 3, Finance Code, is amended by adding Chapter 279 to read as follows: CHAPTER 279. BANKING AND CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 279.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Credit union" means a state or federal credit union. (2) "Finance commission" means the Finance Commission of Texas. (3) "Financial institution" means a state or national bank, a state or federal savings bank, or a state or federal savings and loan association. (4) "Local government" means a municipality or county. SUBCHAPTER B. BANKING DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS Sec. 279.051. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. The finance commission shall administer and monitor a banking development district program under this chapter to encourage the establishment of branches of a financial institution in geographic areas where there is a demonstrated need for banking services. Sec. 279.052. RULES. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the finance commission shall adopt rules to implement this subchapter and Subchapters D and E with respect to financial institutions in banking development districts. (b) The finance commission, in consultation with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, shall adopt rules regarding the criteria for the designation of banking development districts under this subchapter. The rules must require the finance commission to consider: (1) the location, number, and proximity of sites where banking services are available in the proposed banking development district; (2) consumer needs for banking services in the proposed district; (3) the economic viability and local credit needs of the community in the proposed district; (4) the existing commercial development in the proposed district; and (5) the impact additional banking services would have on potential economic development in the proposed district. Sec. 279.053. APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION OF BANKING DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. A local government, in conjunction with a financial institution, may submit an application to the finance commission for the designation of a banking development district. Sec. 279.054. APPLICATION BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO OPEN BRANCH IN DISTRICT. A financial institution may apply to open a branch in the proposed banking development district at the time the local government submits an application in conjunction with the institution under Section 279.053. Sec. 279.055. DETERMINATION BY FINANCE COMMISSION. (a) Not later than the 120th day after the date an application for the designation of a banking development district is submitted under Section 279.053, the finance commission shall make a determination regarding whether to approve the application. (b) If the finance commission approves the application, the finance commission shall notify the: (1) local government; (2) financial institution; (3) comptroller; (4) Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office; (5) lieutenant governor; and (6) speaker of the house of representatives. SUBCHAPTER C. CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS Sec. 279.101. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. The Credit Union Commission shall administer and monitor a credit union development district program under this chapter to encourage the establishment of branches of a credit union in geographic areas where there is a demonstrated need for services provided by a credit union. Sec. 279.102. RULES. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the Credit Union Commission shall adopt rules to implement this subchapter and Subchapters D and E with respect to credit unions in credit union development districts. (b) The Credit Union Commission, in consultation with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, shall adopt rules regarding the criteria for the designation of credit union development districts under this subchapter. The rules must require the Credit Union Commission to consider: (1) the location, number, and proximity of sites where services provided by a credit union are available in the proposed credit union development district; (2) consumer needs for services provided by a credit union in the proposed district; (3) the economic viability and local credit needs of the community in the proposed district; (4) the existing commercial development in the proposed district; and (5) the impact additional services provided by a credit union would have on potential economic development in the proposed district. Sec. 279.103. APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION OF CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. A local government, in conjunction with a credit union, may submit an application to the Credit Union Commission for the designation of a credit union development district. Sec. 279.104. APPLICATION BY CREDIT UNION TO OPEN BRANCH IN DISTRICT. A credit union may apply to open a branch in the proposed credit union development district at the time the local government submits an application in conjunction with the credit union under Section 279.103. Sec. 279.105. DETERMINATION BY CREDIT UNION COMMISSION. (a) Not later than the 120th day after the date an application for the designation of a credit union development district is submitted under Section 279.103, the Credit Union Commission shall make a determination regarding whether to approve the application. (b) If the Credit Union Commission approves the application, the Credit Union Commission shall notify the: (1) local government; (2) credit union; (3) comptroller; (4) Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office; (5) lieutenant governor; and (6) speaker of the house of representatives. SUBCHAPTER D. DEPOSIT OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN DISTRICT DEPOSITORY Sec. 279.151. DESIGNATION OF DISTRICT DEPOSITORY. (a) The governing body of a local government in which a banking development district has been designated under Subchapter B may by resolution designate a financial institution located in the district as a banking district depository for purposes of this subchapter. (b) The governing body of a local government in which a credit union development district has been designated under Subchapter C may by resolution designate a credit union located in the district as a credit union district depository for purposes of this subchapter. (c) A resolution adopted under Subsection (a) or (b) must specify the maximum amount that may be kept on deposit with the banking district or credit union district depository, as appropriate. (d) In calculating the yield under Section 2256.006, Government Code, of public funds deposited in a banking district or credit union district depository, the governing body of a local government may consider the benefit to this state of stimulating economic development. Sec. 279.152. DEPOSIT OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT. (a) A local government may deposit public funds with a financial institution designated as a banking district depository or a credit union designated as a credit union district depository under Section 279.151 regardless of whether the financial institution or credit union is designated by the comptroller as a state depository under Subchapter C, Chapter 404, Government Code. (b) Subject to an agreement between the governing body and the banking district or credit union district depository, public funds deposited in the district depository may earn a fixed interest rate that is at or below the financial institution's or credit union's posted two-year certificate of deposit rate, as appropriate. The terms of the agreement must be specified in the applicable resolution adopted under Section 279.151. Sec. 279.153. DEPOSIT OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY STATE. (a) If the comptroller designates the financial institution as a state depository under Subchapter C, Chapter 404, Government Code, the comptroller may deposit public funds with a financial institution designated as a banking district depository under Section 279.151(a). (b) If the comptroller designates the credit union as a state depository under Subchapter C, Chapter 404, Government Code, the comptroller may deposit public funds with a credit union designated as a credit union district depository under Section 279.151(b). (c) For purposes of Subsections (a) and (b), a financial institution or credit union is subject to the collateral requirements of Section 404.031, Government Code. (d) Subject to an agreement between the comptroller and the banking district or credit union district depository, public funds deposited in the district depository may earn a fixed interest rate that is at or below the financial institution's or credit union's posted two-year certificate of deposit rate, as appropriate. (e) In calculating the yield under Section 2256.006, Government Code, of public funds deposited in a banking district or credit union district depository, the comptroller may consider the benefit to this state of stimulating economic development. SUBCHAPTER E. BANKING OR CREDIT UNION DISTRICT BENEFITS Sec. 279.201. TAX ABATEMENT. The governing body of a local government may enter into a tax abatement agreement as provided by Chapter 312, Tax Code, with: (1) a financial institution that owns property in a banking development district on which the institution proposes to open a branch of the institution; or (2) a credit union that owns property in a credit union development district on which the credit union proposes to open a branch of the credit union. SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 312, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 312.2012 to read as follows: Sec. 312.2012. BANKING OR CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. (a) In this section, "financial institution" and "credit union" have the meanings assigned by Section 279.001, Finance Code. (b) The designation of an area as a banking development district or credit union development district under Chapter 279, Finance Code, constitutes designation of the area as a reinvestment zone under this subchapter without further hearing or other procedural requirements other than those provided by Chapter 279, Finance Code. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the provisions of this subchapter apply to the abatement of taxes on property located in a banking or credit union development district. (c) Only the governing body of a municipality or county is eligible to enter into a tax abatement agreement with an owner of property located: (1) in a banking development district so long as the property is owned by a financial institution; or (2) in a credit union development district so long as the property is owned by a credit union. (d) The governing body of a municipality or county may enter into an agreement with: (1) a financial institution to abate taxes on property owned by the institution that is located in a banking development district only on the condition that the institution open a branch on the property; or (2) a credit union to abate taxes on property owned by the credit union that is located in a credit union development district only on the condition that the credit union open a branch on the property. (e) The designation of an area as a reinvestment zone under this section is for purposes of this subchapter only and not for purposes of any other law, including Chapters 311 and 313. SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 312, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 312.4012 to read as follows: Sec. 312.4012. BANKING OR CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. (a) In this section, "financial institution" and "credit union" have the meanings assigned by Section 279.001, Finance Code. (b) The designation of an area as a banking or credit union development district under Chapter 279, Finance Code, constitutes designation of the area as a reinvestment zone under this subchapter without further hearing or other procedural requirements other than those provided by Chapter 279, Finance Code. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the provisions of this subchapter apply to the abatement of taxes on property located in a banking or credit union development district. (c) Only the governing body of a county is eligible to enter into a tax abatement agreement with an owner of property located: (1) in a banking development district so long as the property is owned by a financial institution; or (2) in a credit union development district so long as the property is owned by a credit union. (d) The governing body of a county may enter into an agreement with: (1) a financial institution to abate taxes on property owned by the institution that is located in a banking development district only on the condition that the institution open a branch on the property; or (2) a credit union to abate taxes on property owned by the credit union that is located in a credit union development district only on the condition that the credit union open a branch on the property. (e) The designation of an area as a reinvestment zone under this section is for purposes of this subchapter only and not for purposes of any other law, including Chapters 311 and 313. SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Finance Commission of Texas shall adopt rules governing the designation of banking development districts, as required by Subchapter B, Chapter 279, Finance Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 5. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Credit Union Commission shall adopt rules governing the designation of credit union development districts, as required by Subchapter C, Chapter 279, Finance Code, as added by this Act. 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, 2015.