Texas 2015 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1362 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/12/2015

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                    84R8704 JXC-F
 By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1362


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the powers and duties and composition of the board of
 directors of the Bridgeland Management District.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 3901.002, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 3901.002.  CREATION AND NATURE OF DISTRICT;
 IMMUNITY.  (a) The district is a special district created under
 Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
 (b)  The district is a governmental unit, as provided by
 Section 375.004, Local Government Code.
 (c)  This chapter does not waive any governmental or
 sovereign immunity from suit, liability, or judgment that would
 otherwise apply to the district.
 SECTION 2.  Section 3901.006(d), Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 (d)  The district will:
 (1)  promote the health, safety, and general welfare of
 residents, employers, potential employees, employees, visitors,
 and consumers in the district, and of the public;
 (2)  provide needed funding for the district to
 preserve, maintain, and enhance the economic health and vitality of
 the district territory as a community and business center; and
 (3)  promote the health, safety, welfare, and enjoyment
 of the public by providing pedestrian ways, road facilities,
 transit facilities, parking facilities, conduit facilities and
 other enhanced infrastructure, recreational facilities, and public
 art objects and by landscaping and developing certain areas, which
 are necessary for the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of
 scenic beauty.
 SECTION 3.  Section 3901.011, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 3901.011.  CONFLICTS OF LAW.  This chapter prevails
 over any provision of general law, including a provision of Chapter
 375, Local Government Code, or Chapter 49, Water Code, that is in
 conflict or inconsistent with this chapter.
 SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 3901, Special District
 Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 3901.054 to read as
 follows:
 Sec. 3901.054.  DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS. Section
 49.052, Water Code, applies to the members of the board of the
 district.
 SECTION 5.  Section 3901.103, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 3901.103.  RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.  The district may
 develop or finance recreational facilities as authorized by Chapter
 375, Local Government Code, Sections 52 and 52-a, Article III,
 Texas Constitution, Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution,
 and any other law that applies to the district.
 SECTION 6.  Section 3901.104, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 3901.104.  AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS.  Under Section
 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may own, operate,
 maintain, design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds, notes,
 or other obligations for, improve, and convey to this state, a
 county, or a municipality, for ownership, operation, and
 maintenance, macadamized, graveled, or paved roads or
 improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
 SECTION 7.  Sections 3901.105(a) and (b), Special District
 Local Laws Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The district may [shall] convey a road project
 authorized by Section 3901.104 to:
 (1)  a [the] municipality or county that will operate
 and maintain the road if the municipality or county has approved the
 plans and specifications of the road project; or
 (2)  the state if the state will operate and maintain
 the road and the Texas Transportation Commission has approved the
 plans and specifications of the road project.
 (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the district shall
 operate and maintain a road project authorized by Section 3901.104
 that the district implements and does [is] not convey to [approved
 by] a municipality, a county, or this state under Subsection (a).
 SECTION 8.  Section 3901.109, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 3901.109.  LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES. Section 49.216,
 Water Code, applies to the district [To protect the public
 interest, the district may contract with a qualified party,
 including the county or the city, to provide law enforcement
 services in the district].
 SECTION 9.  Section 3901.114, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections
 (d) and (e) to read as follows:
 (c)  The district may include and exclude land as provided by
 Sections 54.739-54.747, Water Code.  A reference in those sections
 to a "tax" means an ad valorem tax for the purposes of this
 subsection.
 (d)  If the district adopts a sales and use tax authorized at
 an election held under Section 3901.252 and subsequently includes
 new territory in the district under this section, the district:
 (1)  is not required to hold another election to
 approve the imposition of the sales and use tax in the included
 territory; and
 (2)  shall impose the sales and use tax in the included
 territory as provided by Chapter 321, Tax Code.
 (e)  If the district adopts a sales and use tax authorized at
 an election held under Section 3901.252 and subsequently excludes
 territory in the district under this section, the sales and use tax
 is inapplicable to the excluded territory, as provided by Chapter
 321, Tax Code.
 SECTION 10.  Section 3901.115(a), Special District Local
 Laws Code, is amended to read as follows:
 (a)  Subchapter I, Chapter 49, Water Code, applies to a
 district contract for construction work, equipment, materials, or
 machinery. Notwithstanding Sections 2269.003(a) and 2269.352,
 Government Code, the [The] district may use any [a] project
 delivery method described by Subchapter I, Chapter 49, Water Code,
 or Chapter 2269, Government Code, including a delivery method
 described by Subchapter H, Chapter 2269, Government Code
 [Subchapter H, Chapter 271, Local Government Code].
 SECTION 11.  Section 3901.153, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 3901.153.  RULES.  In addition to rules and regulations
 adopted under the district's general rulemaking authority in
 Section 375.096(c), Local Government Code, the [The] district may
 adopt and enforce rules covering its public transit system or its
 public parking facilities, except that a rule relating to or
 affecting the use of the public right-of-way or a requirement for
 off-street parking is subject to all applicable county
 requirements.
 SECTION 12.  Subchapter C-1, Chapter 3901, Special District
 Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 3901.156 to read as
 follows:
 Sec. 3901.156.  MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS. This subchapter does
 not limit the authority of the district to provide mass transit
 systems under Chapter 375, Local Government Code.
 SECTION 13.  Chapter 3901, Special District Local Laws Code,
 is amended by adding Subchapter C-2 to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER C-2. CONDUIT FACILITIES
 Sec. 3901.171.  CONDUIT FACILITIES. (a) The district may
 finance, acquire, construct, improve, operate, maintain, or charge
 a fee for the use of conduits for:
 (1)  fiber-optic cable and supporting facilities;
 (2)  electronic transmission and distribution lines
 and supporting facilities; or
 (3)  other types of transmission and distribution lines
 and supporting facilities.
 (b)  The district may not require a person to use a district
 conduit for a purpose described by Subsection (a)(1) or another
 telecommunications purpose.
 SECTION 14.  Section 3901.204(a), Special District Local
 Laws Code, is amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The board by resolution may impose and collect an
 assessment for any purpose authorized by this chapter in all or any
 part of the district regardless of whether the part of the district
 where the assessment is to be imposed is subject to an assessment
 previously imposed by the board.
 SECTION 15.  Subchapter D, Chapter 3901, Special District
 Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 3901.209 to read as
 follows:
 Sec. 3901.209.  AUDIT EXEMPTION. (a) The district may elect
 to complete an annual financial report in lieu of an annual audit
 under Section 375.096(a)(6), Local Government Code, if:
 (1)  the district had no bonds or other long-term (more
 than one year) liabilities outstanding during the fiscal period;
 (2)  the district did not have gross receipts from
 operations, loans, taxes, assessments, or contributions in excess
 of $250,000 during the fiscal period; and
 (3)  the district's cash and temporary investments were
 not in excess of $250,000 during the fiscal period.
 (b)  Each annual financial report prepared in accordance
 with this section must be open to public inspection and accompanied
 by an affidavit signed by a duly authorized representative of the
 district attesting to the accuracy and authenticity of the
 financial report.
 (c)  The annual financial report and affidavit shall be
 substantially similar in form to the annual financial report and
 affidavit forms prescribed by the executive director of the Texas
 Commission on Environmental Quality under Section 49.198, Water
 Code.
 SECTION 16.  Section 3901.351, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 3901.351.  DISSOLUTION OF DISTRICT [WITH OUTSTANDING
 DEBT]. (a)  Sections 375.262 and 375.264, Local Government Code, do
 not apply to the district.
 (b)  The board may dissolve the district regardless of
 whether the district has debt.  [Section 375.264, Local Government
 Code, does not apply to the district.
 [(b)] If the district has debt when it is dissolved, the
 district shall remain in existence solely for the purpose of
 discharging its debts.  The dissolution is effective when all debts
 have been discharged.
 (c)  Notwithstanding Section 375.263(b), Local Government
 Code, on dissolution of the district, the board shall determine
 whether the district's assets will escheat to the state or are
 transferred to a political subdivision of the state.
 SECTION 17.  The change in law made by Section 3901.054,
 Special District Local Laws Code, as added by this Act, does not
 affect the entitlement of a member serving on the board of directors
 of the Bridgeland Management District immediately before the
 effective date of this Act to continue to carry out the board's
 functions for the remainder of the member's term. The change in law
 applies only to a member elected on or after the effective date of
 this Act.
 SECTION 18.  (a) The legal notice of the intention to
 introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
 Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
 copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
 officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
 under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
 Government Code.
 (b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has
 submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
 Environmental Quality.
 (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
 its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
 lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
 representatives within the required time.
 (d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
 state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
 to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
 and accomplished.
 SECTION 19.  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.