Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3727 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	~~86R28140~~ JXC-D
	1	+	86R14024 JXC-D
2	2		By: Swanson H.B. No. 3727
3		-	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3727:
4		-	By: Stickland C.S.H.B. No. 3727
5	3
6	4
7	5		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	6		AN ACT
9	7		relating to the online publication of information by certain
10	8		special purpose districts.
11	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12		-	SECTION 1. Section 403.0241, Government Code, is amended by
13		-	amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
14		-	follows:
15		-	(b) The comptroller shall create and make accessible on the
16		-	Internet a database, to be known as the Special Purpose District
17		-	Public Information Database, that contains information regarding:
18		-	(1) all special purpose districts of this state that:
19		-	(A) [(1)] are authorized by the state by a
20		-	general or special law to impose an ad valorem tax or a sales and use
21		-	tax, to impose an assessment, or to charge a fee; and
22		-	(B) [(2)] during the most recent fiscal year:
23		-	(i) [(A)] had bonds outstanding;
24		-	(ii) [(B)] had gross receipts from
25		-	operations, loans, taxes, or contributions in excess of $250,000;
26		-	or
27		-	(iii) [(C)] had cash and temporary
28		-	investments in excess of $250,000; and
29		-	(2) all emergency services districts and municipal
30		-	utility districts with a population of more than 100.
31		-	(c-1) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (c), the
32		-	entry for each emergency services district and municipal utility
33		-	district in the database must include:
34		-	(1) an indication of how a person may contact a
35		-	specified person or address to obtain:
36		-	(A) contact information for board members; and
37		-	(B) meeting agendas and minutes;
38		-	(2) the term of each board member; and
39		-	(3) information provided to the comptroller under
40		-	Section 775.046(c), Health and Safety Code, or Section 54.244(c),
41		-	Water Code, as applicable.
42		-	SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 775, Health and Safety
	10	+	SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 775, Health and Safety
43	11		Code, is amended by adding Section 775.046 to read as follows:
44		-	Sec. 775.046. ONLINE PUBLICATION. (a) In this section,
45		-	"comptroller database" means the Special Purpose District Public
46		-	Information Database established under Section 403.0241,
47		-	Government Code.
48		-	(b) This section applies only to a district with a
49		-	population of more than 100.
50		-	(c) In addition to information a district is required to
51		-	provide to the comptroller under Section 403.0241, Government Code,
52		-	and Section 203.062, Local Government Code, the district annually
53		-	shall provide to the comptroller for inclusion in the comptroller
54		-	database:
55		-	(1) an indication of whether the district's
56		-	commissioners are appointed or elected;
57		-	(2) if the district's commissioners are elected:
58		-	(A) an indication of the month in which the
59		-	district's regular elections take place;
60		-	(B) instructions for becoming a candidate to be
61		-	elected as a commissioner, including any relevant deadlines for
62		-	filing required documents; and
63		-	(C) instructions for obtaining the results of
64		-	district elections; and
65		-	(3) if the district's commissioners are appointed, a
66		-	description of the appointment process and the person or body that
67		-	has appointing authority.
68		-	(d) A district shall maintain:
69		-	(1) an Internet website; or
70		-	(2) an Internet domain name that:
71		-	(A) includes a form of the name of the district;
72		-	and
73		-	(B) directs a user to the district's entry in the
74		-	comptroller database.
75		-	(e) If the district maintains an Internet website, the board
76		-	shall ensure that the following items are posted on the Internet
77		-	website and that the items required under Subdivisions (3), (4),
78		-	and (5) are updated on the district's Internet website at least 90
79		-	days before the date of an election held by the district:
80		-	(1) a link to the district's entry in the comptroller
81		-	database;
82		-	(2) the name and term of each commissioner;
83		-	(3) the information described by Subsections
84		-	(c)(1)-(3);
85		-	(4) the district's tax rate;
86		-	(5) the district's budget; and
87		-	(6) meeting agendas and minutes.
88		-	SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Water Code, is amended
	12	+	Sec. 775.046. ONLINE PUBLICATION. (a) A district with a
	13	+	population of more than 100 shall maintain an Internet website.
	14	+	(b) The board shall ensure that the following information is
	15	+	posted on the district's Internet website:
	16	+	(1) the name and contact information for each
	17	+	commissioner;
	18	+	(2) meeting agendas;
	19	+	(3) meeting minutes; and
	20	+	(4) dates of elections of commissioners, if the
	21	+	district's commissioners are elected.
	22	+	(c) The board shall ensure that the district's election
	23	+	information, tax rate, and budget are posted on the district's
	24	+	Internet website at least 60 days before the date of an election
	25	+	held by the district.
	26	+	SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Water Code, is amended
89	27		by adding Section 54.244 to read as follows:
90		-	Sec. 54.244. ONLINE PUBLICATION. (a) In this section,
91		-	"comptroller database" means the Special Purpose District Public
92		-	Information Database established under Section 403.0241,
93		-	Government Code.
94		-	(b) This section applies only to a district with a
95		-	population of more than 100.
96		-	(c) In addition to information a district is required to
97		-	provide to the comptroller under Section 403.0241, Government Code,
98		-	and Section 203.062, Local Government Code, the district annually
99		-	shall provide to the comptroller for inclusion in the comptroller
100		-	database:
101		-	(1) an indication of whether the district's directors
102		-	are appointed or elected;
103		-	(2) if the district's directors are elected:
104		-	(A) an indication of the month in which the
105		-	district's regular elections take place;
106		-	(B) instructions for becoming a candidate to be
107		-	elected as a director, including any relevant deadlines for filing
108		-	required documents; and
109		-	(C) instructions for obtaining the results of
110		-	district elections; and
111		-	(3) if the district's directors are appointed, a
112		-	description of the appointment process and the person or body that
113		-	has appointing authority.
114		-	(d) A district shall maintain:
115		-	(1) an Internet website; or
116		-	(2) an Internet domain name that:
117		-	(A) includes a form of the name of the district;
118		-	and
119		-	(B) directs a user to the district's entry in the
120		-	comptroller database.
121		-	(e) If the district maintains an Internet website, the board
122		-	shall ensure that the following items are posted on the Internet
123		-	website and that the items required by Subdivisions (3), (4), and
124		-	(5) are updated on the district's Internet website at least 90 days
125		-	before the date of an election held by the district:
126		-	(1) a link to the district's entry in the comptroller
127		-	database;
128		-	(2) the name and term of each director;
129		-	(3) the information described by Subsections
130		-	(c)(1)-(3);
131		-	(4) the district's tax rate;
132		-	(5) the district's budget; and
133		-	(6) meeting agendas and minutes.
134		-	(f) A district shall provide a link to the Internet website
135		-	or the Internet domain name required under Subsection (d):
136		-	(1) on the first page of each bill sent to a customer;
137		-	and
138		-	(2) in a prominent location on each electronic bill or
139		-	receipt sent to a customer.
140		-	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
	28	+	Sec. 54.244. ONLINE PUBLICATION. (a) A district with a
	29	+	population of more than 100 shall maintain an Internet website.
	30	+	(b) The board shall ensure that the following information is
	31	+	posted on the district's Internet website:
	32	+	(1) the name and contact information for each
	33	+	director;
	34	+	(2) meeting agendas;
	35	+	(3) meeting minutes; and
	36	+	(4) dates of elections of directors, if the district's
	37	+	directors are elected.
	38	+	(c) The board shall ensure that the district's election
	39	+	information, tax rate, and budget are posted on the district's
	40	+	Internet website at least 60 days before the date of an election
	41	+	held by the district.
	42	+	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.