By: VanDeaver (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 967
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;
May 11, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on
Administration; May 22, 2017, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0, 1 present not voting; May 22, 2017, sent to
printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the powers of the TexAmericas Center.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 3503.003(a), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The authority is created to:
(1) accept title on approval by, and in coordination
with, the governor to all or a portion of the property on, adjacent
to, or related to the property described by Section 3503.004 from
the United States;
(2) promote the location and development of new
businesses, industries, and commercial activities on or related to
the property;
(3) undertake a project the board considers necessary
or incidental to the industrial, commercial, or business
development, redevelopment, maintenance, and expansion of new or
existing businesses on and for the property described by Section
3503.004, including the acquisition, construction, operation,
maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, replacement, improvement,
extension, expansion, or enhancement of:
(A) roads, bridges, and rights-of-way;
(B) housing;
(C) property;
(D) police, fire, medical, cultural,
educational, and research services, equipment, institutions, and
resources;
(E) other community support services;
(F) flood control, water, wastewater treatment,
natural gas, electricity, solid waste disposal, steam generation,
communications, and all other utility facilities and services;
(G) other infrastructure improvements; and
(H) any other services or facilities acquired by
the authority from the United States;
(4) promote or support an active military base located
in the same county as the authority to prevent closure or
realignment of the base and attract new military missions to the
base; [and]
(5) exercise the powers granted to a conservation and
reclamation district under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
Constitution; and
(6) promote regional economic development and job
creation inside the district's boundaries and outside of the
district's boundaries in Bowie County and adjacent counties.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 3503, Special District
Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 3503.112 to read as
follows:
Sec. 3503.112. NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS FOR SPECIAL
PROJECTS. (a) The authority may authorize by resolution the
creation of a nonprofit corporation under the Business
Organizations Code solely to undertake on behalf of the authority a
project described by Section 3503.003(a)(3).
(b) The board shall appoint the board of directors of each
nonprofit corporation created under this section. A board member
is not required to reside in the authority.
(c) A board member or employee of the authority may
simultaneously serve as a member of the board of directors of a
nonprofit corporation. A person serving as a board member of the
authority and of a nonprofit corporation created under this section
may participate in all votes relating to the business of the
authority or the corporation.
(d) The nonprofit corporation may not exercise the power of
eminent domain.
(e) A nonprofit corporation created under this section is
subject to Chapters 551 and 552, Government Code.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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