By: Martinez (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 2772
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 2015;
May 14, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
Resources and Economic Development; May 22, 2015, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 1; May 22, 2015,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of certain economic development
corporations to undertake and operate transportation-related
projects.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 501.106(b), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) For a corporation to which this section applies, in this
subtitle, "project" includes the land, buildings, facilities,
infrastructure, and improvements that:
(1) the corporation's board of directors finds are
required or suitable for the development or promotion of new or
expanded business enterprises through transportation facilities
including airports, hangars, railports, rail switching facilities,
maintenance and repair facilities, cargo facilities, marine ports,
inland ports, mass commuting facilities, parking facilities, and
related infrastructure located on or adjacent to an airport or
railport facility [expansion of airport facilities]; or
(2) are undertaken by the corporation if the
municipality that authorized the creation of the corporation has,
at the time the corporation approves the project as provided by this
subtitle:
(A) a population of less than 50,000; or
(B) an average rate of unemployment that is
greater than the state average rate of unemployment during the most
recent 12-month period for which data is available that precedes
the date the project is approved.
SECTION 2. Section 501.160(d), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(d) A corporation has all the powers necessary to own and
operate a project as a business if:
(1) the project is a military installation or military
facility that has been closed or realigned, including a military
installation or facility closed or realigned under the Defense Base
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. Section 2687 note),
as amended; or
(2) the project is authorized under Section 501.106.
SECTION 3. 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.
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