Texas 2017 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4287 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/21/2017

                    85R9676 AAF-F
 By: Fallon H.B. No. 4287


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the powers and duties of Smiley Road Water Control and
 Improvement District.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 9001.104, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 9001.104.  [PROHIBITION ON] DIVISION OF DISTRICT.  (a)
 The district may be divided into two or more districts only if the
 district:
 (1)  has no outstanding bonded debt; and
 (2)  is not imposing ad valorem taxes.
 (b)  This chapter applies to any new district created by the
 division of the district, and a new district has all the powers and
 duties of the district.
 (c)  A new district created by the division of the district
 may not, at the time the new district is created, contain any land
 outside the area described by Section 9001.004.
 (d)  The board, on its own motion or on receipt of a petition
 signed by the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed value of
 the real property in the district, may adopt an order dividing the
 district.
 (e)  An order dividing the district shall:
 (1)  name each new district;
 (2)  include the metes and bounds of each new district;
 (3)  appoint temporary directors for each new district;
 and
 (4)  provide for the division of assets and liabilities
 between the district and each new district.
 (f)  On or before the 30th day after the date of adoption of
 an order dividing the district, the district shall file the order
 with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and record the
 order in the real property records of each county in which the
 district is located.
 (g)  A new district may be created by the division of the
 district only if approved by the voters of the new district in a
 confirmation and directors' election held for that purpose.
 (h)  If the district is located wholly or partly in the
 corporate limits or the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a
 municipality, the district may not divide under this section unless
 the municipality by resolution or ordinance consents to the
 division of the district.
 (i)  Any new district created by the division of the district
 must hold an election to obtain voter approval before the district
 may impose a maintenance tax or issue bonds payable wholly or partly
 from ad valorem taxes.  [The district may not divide into two or
 more districts in the manner specified by Section 51.748 or 53.029,
 Water Code.]
 SECTION 2.  Sections 9001.201(a), (b), and (d), Special
 District Local Laws Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The district may issue bonds as provided by [Chapter 49
 or 51, Water Code, or Section 53.029, Water Code,] the general laws
 of this state[,] or this section, including by competitive bid,
 negotiated sale, or private placement.
 (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c) and Section
 9001.202, the district may issue bonds, notes, or other obligations
 [as provided by Section 53.029, Water Code,] to finance, or assist
 in the financing of, projects under Section 9001.105.
 (d)  Section 49.181, Water Code, does not apply to a bond
 issued under this section by the district to finance, or assist in
 the financing of, projects under Section 9001.105 [under Section
 53.029, Water Code].
 SECTION 3.  (a)  The following are validated and confirmed in
 all respects:
 (1)  the creation of the Smiley Road Water Control and
 Improvement District; and
 (2)  any act or proceeding of the district, including
 an election, not excepted by this section and taken not more than
 three years before the effective date of this Act, effective as of
 the date on which the act or proceeding occurred.
 (b)  This section does not apply to:
 (1)  an act, proceeding, director, other official,
 bond, or other obligation the validity of which or of whom is the
 subject of litigation that is pending on the effective date of this
 Act; or
 (2)  an act or proceeding that, under a statute of this
 state or the United States, was a misdemeanor or felony at the time
 the act or proceeding occurred.
 SECTION 4.  (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 5.  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, 2017.