Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1379 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/05/2019

                    86R7969 AAF-F
 By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1379


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the creation of the Harris County Municipal Utility
 District No. 565; granting a limited power of eminent domain;
 providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose
 assessments, fees, and taxes.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8036 to read as follows:
 CHAPTER 8036. HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 565
 SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 8036.0101.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
 (1)  "Board" means the district's board of directors.
 (2)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
 Environmental Quality.
 (3)  "Director" means a board member.
 (4)  "District" means the Harris County Municipal
 Utility District No. 565.
 Sec. 8036.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a
 municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
 Texas Constitution.
 Sec. 8036.0103.  CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTOR ELECTION
 REQUIRED.  The temporary directors shall hold an election to
 confirm the creation of the district and to elect five permanent
 directors as provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
 Sec. 8036.0104.  CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
 temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
 8036.0103 until each municipality in whose corporate limits or
 extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located has
 consented by ordinance or resolution to the creation of the
 district and to the inclusion of land in the district.
 Sec. 8036.0105.  FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT.
 (a)  The district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit.
 (b)  The district is created to accomplish the purposes of:
 (1)  a municipal utility district as provided by
 general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and
 (2)  Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, that
 relate to the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation,
 or maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
 improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
 Sec. 8036.0106.  INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY.  (a)  The
 district is initially composed of the territory described by
 Section 2 of the Act enacting this chapter.
 (b)  The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of
 the Act enacting this chapter form a closure.  A mistake made in the
 field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process
 does not affect the district's:
 (1)  organization, existence, or validity;
 (2)  right to issue any type of bond for the purposes
 for which the district is created or to pay the principal of and
 interest on a bond;
 (3)  right to impose a tax; or
 (4)  legality or operation.
 SUBCHAPTER B.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 Sec. 8036.0201.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS.  (a)  The district is
 governed by a board of five elected directors.
 (b)  Except as provided by Section 8036.0202, directors
 serve staggered four-year terms.
 Sec. 8036.0202.  TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) On or after
 September 1, 2019, the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed
 value of the real property in the district may submit a petition to
 the commission requesting that the commission appoint as temporary
 directors the five persons named in the petition.  The commission
 shall appoint as temporary directors the five persons named in the
 petition.
 (b)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
 (1)  the date permanent directors are elected under
 Section 8036.0103; or
 (2)  September 1, 2023.
 (c)  If permanent directors have not been elected under
 Section 8036.0103 and the terms of the temporary directors have
 expired, successor temporary directors shall be appointed or
 reappointed as provided by Subsection (d) to serve terms that
 expire on the earlier of:
 (1)  the date permanent directors are elected under
 Section 8036.0103; or
 (2)  the fourth anniversary of the date of the
 appointment or reappointment.
 (d)  If Subsection (c) applies, the owner or owners of a
 majority of the assessed value of the real property in the district
 may submit a petition to the commission requesting that the
 commission appoint as successor temporary directors the five
 persons named in the petition.  The commission shall appoint as
 successor temporary directors the five persons named in the
 petition.
 SUBCHAPTER C.  POWERS AND DUTIES
 Sec. 8036.0301.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district
 has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
 which the district is created.
 Sec. 8036.0302.  MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND
 DUTIES.  The district has the powers and duties provided by the
 general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code,
 applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59,
 Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
 Sec. 8036.0303.  AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Under Section
 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may design,
 acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate,
 maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for
 operation and maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
 improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
 Sec. 8036.0304.  ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) A
 road project must meet all applicable construction standards,
 zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulations of each
 municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial
 jurisdiction the road project is located.
 (b)  If a road project is not located in the corporate limits
 or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, the road
 project must meet all applicable construction standards,
 subdivision requirements, and regulations of each county in which
 the road project is located.
 (c)  If the state will maintain and operate the road, the
 Texas Transportation Commission must approve the plans and
 specifications of the road project.
 Sec. 8036.0305.  COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT
 ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION.  The district shall comply with all
 applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution that is
 adopted under Section 54.016 or 54.0165, Water Code, and that
 consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
 in the district.
 SUBCHAPTER D.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 8036.0401.  ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS. (a)
 The district may issue, without an election, bonds and other
 obligations secured by:
 (1)  revenue other than ad valorem taxes; or
 (2)  contract payments described by Section 8036.0403.
 (b)  The district must hold an election in the manner
 provided by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to obtain voter approval
 before the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds
 payable from ad valorem taxes.
 (c)  The district may not issue bonds payable from ad valorem
 taxes to finance a road project unless the issuance is approved by a
 vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting at an
 election held for that purpose.
 Sec. 8036.0402.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.  (a)  If
 authorized at an election held under Section 8036.0401, the
 district may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable
 property in the district in accordance with Section 49.107, Water
 Code.
 (b)  The board shall determine the tax rate.  The rate may not
 exceed the rate approved at the election.
 Sec. 8036.0403.  CONTRACT TAXES.  (a)  In accordance with
 Section 49.108, Water Code, the district may impose a tax other than
 an operation and maintenance tax and use the revenue derived from
 the tax to make payments under a contract after the provisions of
 the contract have been approved by a majority of the district voters
 voting at an election held for that purpose.
 (b)  A contract approved by the district voters may contain a
 provision stating that the contract may be modified or amended by
 the board without further voter approval.
 SUBCHAPTER E.  BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
 Sec. 8036.0501.  AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER
 OBLIGATIONS.  The district may issue bonds or other obligations
 payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact fees,
 revenue, contract payments, grants, or other district money, or any
 combination of those sources, to pay for any authorized district
 purpose.
 Sec. 8036.0502.  TAXES FOR BONDS. At the time the district
 issues bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, the
 board shall provide for the annual imposition of a continuing
 direct ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, while all
 or part of the bonds are outstanding as required and in the manner
 provided by Sections 54.601 and 54.602, Water Code.
 Sec. 8036.0503.  BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. At the time of
 issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other obligations
 issued or incurred to finance road projects and payable from ad
 valorem taxes may not exceed one-fourth of the assessed value of the
 real property in the district.
 SECTION 2.  The Harris County Municipal Utility District
 No. 565 initially includes all the territory contained in the
 following area:
 Being a 104.21 acre tract of land located in the Harris County
 School Land Survey, Section 27 and Section 28, A-333, Harris
 County, Texas; said 104.21 acre tract being a portion of a called
 56.491 acre tract of land recorded in Clerk's File Number
 RP-2018-392482 of the Official Public Records of Real Property
 Harris County (O.P.R.R.P.H.C.), Texas and the remainder of a called
 51.1936 acre tract of land recorded in Clerk's File No. M000378 of
 the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.; said 104.21 acre tract being more particularly
 described by metes and bounds in two tracts as follows (all bearings
 are referenced to the Texas Coordinate System, NAD 83, 2001 Adj.,
 South Central Zone):
 Tract 1- 55.37 Acres
 Beginning at a 1-1/4-inch iron rod found at the southeast corner of
 said called 56.491 acre tract and a westerly interior corner of a
 called 75.9019 acre tract of land recorded in Clerk's File Number
 R062458 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.
 1.  Thence, with the south line of said called 56.491 acre
 tract, a westerly line of said called 75.9019 acre tract, the north
 line of a called 9.737 acre tract of land recorded in Clerk's File
 Number U588970, the north line of a called 9.736 acre tract of land
 recorded in Clerk's File Number U496673, and the north line of a
 called 4.736 acre tract (north half) of land recorded in Clerk's
 File Number 20140111501 all of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C, South 87 degrees
 50 minutes 16 seconds West (called S89°49'29"W), a distance of
 1,619.54 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped "COSTELLO INC"
 found on the east right-of-way (R.O.W.) line of Becker Road
 (66-feet wide) from which a PK nail found for the southwest corner
 of said called 56.491 acre tract bears S87°50'16"W, 33.00';
 2.  Thence, with said east R.O.W. line, North 02 degrees 09
 minutes 37 seconds West, a distance of 1,484.67 feet to a 5/8-inch
 iron rod found on the north line of said called 56.491 acre tract
 and south line of a called 10.039 acre tract of land recorded in
 Clerk's File No. 20120062218 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.;
 3.  Thence, with the north line of said called 56.491 acre
 tract common with the south line of said called 10.039 acre tract,
 North 87 degrees 38 minutes 44 seconds East (called North 89 degrees
 38 minutes 21 seconds East), a distance of 1,623.50 feet (called
 1623.69 feet) to the northeast corner of said called 56.491 acre
 tract, the southwest corner of said call 10.039 acre tract and being
 on the west line of aforesaid called 75.9019 acre tract;
 4.  Thence, with the east line of said called 56.491 acre
 tract common with the west line of said called 75.9019 are tract,
 South 02 degrees 00 minutes 29 seconds East (called South 00 degrees
 00 minutes 52 seconds East), a distance of 1,490.13 feet (called
 1489.98 feet) to the Point of Beginning and containing 55.37 acres
 of land.
 Tract 2- 48.84 Acres
 Beginning at a 1-inch iron pipe found at the northeasterly corner of
 a called two acre tract of land recorded in the name of Lendell
 Martin and Lawanna Martin, co-trustees of the Justin Clint Martin
 1994 Investment Trust in C.F. No. X651859 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.,
 and being at the intersection of an interior south line of said
 51.1936 acre tract with the westerly right-of-way line of Becker
 Road (66-feet wide) as established by the map of Harris County
 School Land recorded in Volume 17, Pages 222 and 223 of the Deed
 Records of Harris County;
 1.  South 87 degrees 57 minutes 49 seconds West, a distance
 of 484.00 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped "COSTELLO
 INC" found at an interior corner of said 51.1936 acre tract and the
 northwest corner of said two acre tract;
 2.  South 02 degrees 09 minutes 19 seconds East, a distance
 of 180.00 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped "COSTELLO
 INC" found at an interior corner of said 51.1936 acre tract and the
 southwest corner of said two acre tract, from which a found 5/8-inch
 iron rod bears North 87 degrees 54 minutes 26 seconds East, a
 distance of 1.18 feet;
 3.  North 87 degrees 57 minutes 49 seconds East, a distance
 of 484.00 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod with cap stamped "COSTELLO
 INC" found at the southeast corner of said two acre tract and being
 on the aforesaid westerly right-of-way line of Becker Road, from
 which a found 1-inch iron pipe bears North 49 degrees 58 minutes 30
 seconds East, a distance of 1.81 feet;
 4.  Thence, with said westerly right-of-way line of Becker
 Road, South 02 degrees 09 minutes 19 seconds East, a distance of
 1,141.31 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod found on the southerly line of
 said 51.1936 acre tract and the northerly line of a called 20.00
 acre tract of land recorded in the name of Tye E. Smith and wife,
 Patricia B. Smith in C.F. No. S272354 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.;
 5.  Thence, with said southerly line of the 51.1936 acre
 tract and said northerly line of the 20.00 acre tract, South 88
 degrees 01 minutes 34 seconds West, a distance of 1,190.54 feet to a
 5/8-inch iron rod found at the southwest corner of said 51.1936 acre
 tract and an interior corner of said 20.00 acre tract;
 6.  Thence, with the westerly line of said 51.1936 acre
 tract, an easterly line of said 20.00 acre tract, and the easterly
 line of a called 58.4349 acre tract of land recorded in the name of
 John Bryan Lowe, Jr. in C.F. No. M000380 of the O.P.R.R.P.H.C.,
 North 02 degrees 10 minutes 06 seconds West, a distance of 1,859.46
 feet to a 5/8-inch iron rod found on the southerly right-of-way line
 of Botkins Road (66-feet wide) as established by aforesaid map of
 Harris County School Land;
 7.  Thence, with said southerly right-of-way line of Botkins
 Road, North 88 degrees 00 minutes 04 seconds East, a distance of
 1,190.96 feet to a 3/4-inch iron rod found at the intersection with
 aforesaid westerly right-of-way line of Becker Road;
 8.  Thence, with said westerly right-of-way line of Becker
 Road, South 02 degrees 09 minutes 19 seconds East, a distance of
 538.67 feet to the Point of Beginning and containing 48.84 acres of
 land.
 Parcel 1- 55.37 Acres
 Parcel 2- 48.84 Acres
 Total - 104.21 Acres
 SECTION 3.  (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 4.  (a)  If this Act does not receive a two-thirds
 vote of all the members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter
 8036, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
 this Act, is amended by adding Section 8036.0306 to read as follows:
 Sec. 8036.0306.  NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
 not exercise the power of eminent domain.
 (b)  This section is not intended to be an expression of a
 legislative interpretation of the requirements of Section 17(c),
 Article I, Texas Constitution.
 SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.