Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4724 Introduced / Bill

Filed 04/09/2019

                    86R19615 TSR-F
 By: Burns H.B. No. 4724


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the creation of the Dove Valley Ranch Municipal Utility
 District of Johnson County; 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 7895 to read as follows:
 CHAPTER 7895. DOVE VALLEY RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT OF
 JOHNSON COUNTY
 SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 7895.0101.  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 Dove Valley Ranch Municipal
 Utility District of Johnson County.
 Sec. 7895.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a
 municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
 Texas Constitution.
 Sec. 7895.0103.  CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTORS' 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. 7895.0104.  CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
 temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
 7895.0103 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. 7895.0105.  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. 7895.0106.  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. 7895.0201.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS.  (a)  The district is
 governed by a board of five elected directors.
 (b)  Except as provided by Section 7895.0202, directors
 serve staggered four-year terms.
 Sec. 7895.0202.  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 7895.0103; or
 (2)  September 1, 2023.
 (c)  If permanent directors have not been elected under
 Section 7895.0103 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 7895.0103; 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. 7895.0301.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district
 has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
 which the district is created.
 Sec. 7895.0302.  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. 7895.0303.  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. 7895.0304.  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. 7895.0305.  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.
 Sec. 7895.0306.  DIVISION OF DISTRICT. (a)  The district may
 be divided into two or more new 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)  Any 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 2 of the Act enacting this
 chapter.
 (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)  The board may adopt an order dividing the district
 before or after the date the board holds an election under Section
 7895.0103 to confirm the district's creation.
 (f)  An order dividing the district must:
 (1)  name each new district;
 (2)  include the metes and bounds description of the
 territory of each new district;
 (3)  appoint temporary directors for each new district;
 and
 (4)  provide for the division of assets and liabilities
 between or among the new districts.
 (g)  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 commission and record the order in the real property
 records of each county in which the district is located.
 (h)  Any new district created by the division of the district
 shall hold a confirmation and directors' election as required by
 Section 7895.0103. If the voters of a new district do not confirm
 the creation of the new district, the assets, obligations,
 territory, and governance of the new district revert to the
 original district.
 (i)  Municipal consent to the creation of the district and to
 the inclusion of land in the district granted under Section
 7895.0104 acts as municipal consent to the creation of any new
 district created by the division of the district and to the
 inclusion of land in the new district.
 (j)  Any new district created by the division of the district
 must hold an election as required by this chapter to obtain voter
 approval before the district may impose a maintenance tax or issue
 bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes.
 (k)  If the creation of the new district is confirmed, the
 new district shall provide the election date and results to the
 commission.
 SUBCHAPTER D.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 7895.0401.  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 7895.0403.
 (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. 7895.0402.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.  (a)  If
 authorized at an election held under Section 7895.0401, 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. 7895.0403.  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. 7895.0501.  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. 7895.0502.  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. 7895.0503.  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 Dove Valley Ranch Municipal Utility District
 of Johnson County initially includes all the territory contained in
 the following area:
 574.533 acres of land situated in Johnson County, Texas,
 being made up of the following three (3) tracts of land:
 Tract I:
 BEING all that certain tract or parcel of land lying and being
 situated in the JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOL SURVEY ABSTRACT NO. 437,
 Johnson County, Texas and being the remainder of a tract described
 in deed to Daniel Cattle Company recorded in Book 3425, Page 705,
 Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas and being more particularly
 described as follows:
 BEGINNING at a fence corner post at the intersection of the
 north line of said Daniel Tract and the East right of way line of
 F.M. Road 2331 and being on the south line of a tract described in a
 deed to P.C. Bishop et ux, recorded in Volume 424, Page 353, Deed
 Records, Johnson County, Texas and being the Northwest corner of
 the remainder of said Daniel Tract;
 THENCE North 89 degrees 29 minutes 13 seconds East with the
 north line of said Daniel Tract the south line of said Bishop Tract
 part of the way, passing the southeast corner of said Bishop Tract
 and the Southwest corner of a tract described in a deed to Susan R.
 Welborn, recorded in Book 2578, Page 105, Deed Records, Johnson
 County, Texas, continuing with the south line of said Welborn Tract
 a total distance of 3398.43 feet to a set 1/2 inch iron pin stamped
 "Metroplex 1849" at the Southwest corner of Mustang Estates Phase
 1, an addition to the County of Johnson according to the plat
 thereof recorded in Volume 8, Page 640-641, Plat Records, Johnson
 County, Texas;
 THENCE North 89 degrees 28 minutes 46 seconds East with the
 North line of said Daniel tract and the South line of said Mustang
 Estates a distance of 1262.51 feet to a set 1/2 inch iron pin
 stamped "Metroplex 1849";
 THENCE North 89 degrees 31 minutes 45 seconds East continuing
 with the north line of said Daniel Tract and the south line of said
 Mustang Estates a distance of 1378.82 feet to a set PK Nail at the
 Northeast corner of said Daniel tract on the West line of a tract
 described in a deed to Eugene Embry recorded in Book 2419, Page 755,
 Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas and said nail being in County
 Road 1004;
 THENCE South 00 degrees 28 minutes 11 seconds East with the
 east line of said Daniels Tract a distance of 2587.09 feet to a set
 PK Nail at the southeast corner of said Daniels Tract being the
 northeast corner of a tract described in a deed to John Walter
 Hubbard recorded in Volume 750, Page 273, Deed Records, Johnson
 County, Texas said corner also being on the west line of a tract
 described in a deed to Evernon C. Carrell recorded in Volume 480,
 Page 579, Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas;
 THENCE South 89 degrees 47 minutes 22 seconds West with the
 south line of said Daniel Tract, the north line of said John Walter
 Hubbard Tract part of the way passing the northeast corner of a
 tract described in a deed to Winford Gayland Hubbard et ux, recorded
 in Volume 1533, Page 492, Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas,
 continuing for a total distance of 3391.80 feet to a found iron pin
 at the northwest corner of said Windford Gayland Hubbard Tract and
 the northeast corner of a tract described in a deed to Mark E.
 Angeledes and Delana D. Angeledes recorded in Book 2833, Page 944,
 Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas;
 THENCE South 89 degrees 18 minutes 56 seconds West with the
 south line of said Daniel Tract, the north line of said Angeledes
 Tract part of the way passing the northwest corner of said Angeledes
 Tract and the northeast corner of a tract described in a deed to
 Bart Lynch et ux recorded in Book 2805, Page 840, Deed Records,
 Johnson County, Texas continuing with the north line of said Lynch
 Tract a total distance of 1344.68 feet to a found iron pin at the
 northwest corner of said Lynch Tract and the northeast corner of a
 tract described in a deed to Ben Davis, Jr. recorded in Book 2355,
 Page 431, Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas;
 THENCE South 89 degrees 19 minutes 35 seconds West with the
 south line of said Daniel Tract and the north line of said Davis
 Tract a distance of 1307.95 feet to a found iron pin at the
 intersection of the south line of said Daniel Tract and the east
 right of way of F.M. Road 2331 and being the northwest corner of
 said Davis Tract and the Southwest corner of the remainder of said
 Daniel Tract;
 THENCE North 00 degrees 22 minutes 01 seconds West with the
 east right of way line of F.M. Road 2331 a distance of 2577.73 feet
 to the POINT OF BEGINNING and Containing 357.408 acres of land, more
 or less.
 Tract II:
 BEING all that certain tract or parcel of land lying and being
 situated in the JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOL SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 437,
 Johnson County, Texas, and being a part of a tract described in a
 deed to Susan Daniel Hammond et al, recorded in Volume 1222, Page
 578, Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas and being more
 particularly described as follows:
 BEGINNING at a found iron pin at the southwest corner of a
 tract described in a deed to Ben Davis, Jr. recorded in Volume 2355,
 Page 431, Deed Records, Johnson County, Texas and being on the east
 right of way line of F.M. 2331 from which a found iron pin at the
 northwest corner of said Davis Tract bears North 00 degrees 22
 minutes 00 seconds West a distance of 416.82 feet;
 THENCE North 89 degrees 19 minutes 58 seconds East with the
 south line of said Davis Tract a distance of 1307.25 feet to a found
 iron pin at the southeast corner of said Davis Tract, and being on
 the west line of a tract described in a deed to Bart Lynch et ux,
 recorded in Book 2805, Page 840, Deed Records of Johnson County,
 Texas;
 THENCE South 00 degrees 22 minutes 09 seconds East with the
 west line of said Lynch Tract, a distance of 1303.49 feet to a found
 iron pin at the southwest corner of said Lynch Tract and the
 northwest corner of a called Tract 1, described in a deed to Scott
 Wayne Anderson et al recorded in Book 2509, Page 133, Deed Records
 of Johnson County, Texas;
 THENCE 00 degrees 23 minutes 53 seconds East with the west
 line of said Anderson Tract a distance of 349.90 feet to a found
 iron pin at the southwest corner of said Anderson Tract and the
 northwest corner of a tract described in a deed to Winston E. Dixon
 et ux recorded in Book 2802, Page 653, Deed Records, Johnson County,
 Texas;
 THENCE South 00 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds East with the
 west line of said Dixon Tract a distance of 516.60 feet to a set PK
 Nail at the southwest corner of Dixon Tract and being on the south
 line of said Hammond Tract;
 THENCE South 89 degrees 19 minutes 43 seconds West with the
 south line of said Hammond Tract a distance of 1255.64 feet to a set
 PK Nail at the southern most southwest corner of said Hammond Tract
 and being the east right of way line F.M. Road 2331;
 THENCE North 00 degrees 17 minutes 46 seconds West with the
 west line of said Hammond Tract and the east right of way line of
 F.M. Road 2331 a distance of 20.11 feet to a set 1/2 inch iron pin
 stamped "Metroplex 1849";
 THENCE North 45 degrees 22 minutes 01 second West with the
 west line of said Hammond Tract and the east right of way line of
 F.M. Road 2331 a distance of 70.60 feet to a set 1/2 inch iron pin
 stamped "Metroplex 1849";
 THENCE North 00 degrees 22 minutes 00 seconds West with the
 west line of said Hammond Tract and the east right of way line of
 F.M. Road 2331 a distance of 2099.78 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING
 and containing 65.064 acres of land, more or less.
 Tract III:
 152.061 Acres situated in and being a portion of Sections 18
 and 19, JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOL LAND SURVEY, ABSTRACT No. 427,
 Johnson County, Texas and being all those certain Lots, Tracts or
 Parcels of land described by deeds to Ronald W. Welborn, Trustee,
 recorded in Volume 2465, Page 461 and Susan R. Welborn, recorded in
 Volume 2578, Page 105, Official Records, Johnson County, Texas and
 being more particularly described by metes and bounds as follows:
 BEGINNING at an iron rod set, said iron being the called
 southwest corner of said Section 18;
 THENCE N 00°22'34" W, 1316.79 feet to an iron rod set;
 THENCE N 89°33'30"E, 232.98 feet to an iron rod set;
 THENCE N 00°24'34" W, 1267.91 feet to an iron rod found;
 THENCE N 89°33'32" E, at 3119.2 feet passing an iron rod found
 in the west line of County Road No. 1004, as it exist and in all
 3140.20 feet to a nail set in said county road;
 THENCE S 00°24'30" E, 1700.08 feet to a nail in said county
 road;
 THENCE S 89°35'30" W, at 30.0 feet passing an iron rod found at
 the northeast corner of Dove Valley Ranch, an addition to Johnson
 County, Texas, according to the plat recorded in Volume 8, Page 641,
 Plat Records, Johnson County, Texas and in all 380.50 feet to an
 iron rod set at the most northerly northwest corner of said Dove
 Valley Ranch;
 THENCE with the line of said Dove Valley Ranch the following
 courses and distances;
 S 00°24'30" E, 239.47 feet to an iron rod found;
 S 89°30'30" W, 2270.28 feet to an iron rod found;
 S 00°26'18" E, 642.05 feet to an iron rod found at the
 southwest corner of said Dove Valley Ranch;
 THENCE S 89°27'14" W, 723.45 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING
 152.061 acres of land.
 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
 7895, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
 this Act, is amended by adding Section 7895.0307 to read as follows:
 Sec. 7895.0307.  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.