Texas 2015 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3040 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/11/2015

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                    84R11700 ATP-F
 By: Martinez H.B. No. 3040


 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.  Subchapter D, Chapter 377, Local Government
 Code, is amended by adding Section 377.075 to read as follows:
 Sec. 377.075.  AIRPORT FACILITIES OR OTHER PROJECTS BY
 CORPORATIONS CREATED IN CERTAIN BORDER MUNICIPALITIES. (a) This
 section applies only to a district created in the jurisdiction of a
 municipality, any part of which is located within 25 miles of an
 international border.
 (b)  For a district to which this section applies,
 "development project" includes the land, buildings, facilities,
 infrastructure, and improvements that:
 (1)  the board 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; or
 (2)  are undertaken by the district if the
 municipality, the jurisdiction of which the district is located in,
 has, at the time the board approves the project:
 (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.
 (c)  The district may own and operate as a business a project
 authorized by this section.
 SECTION 2.  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 3.  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 4.  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.