By: Taylor S.B. No. 2538
(In the Senate - Filed April 8, 2019; April 8, 2019, read
first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
Relations; April 23, 2019, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 23, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Brazoria County Municipal Utility
District No. 77; 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 8379 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 8379. BRAZORIA COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 77
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8379.0101. 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 Brazoria County Municipal
Utility District No. 77.
Sec. 8379.0102. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
municipal utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI,
Texas Constitution.
Sec. 8379.0103. 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. 8379.0104. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
8379.0103 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. 8379.0105. 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. 8379.0106. 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. 8379.0201. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district
is governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 8379.0202, directors
serve staggered four-year terms.
Sec. 8379.0202. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) On or after the
effective date of the Act enacting this chapter, 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 8379.0103; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the effective date of
the Act enacting this chapter.
(c) If permanent directors have not been elected under
Section 8379.0103 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 8379.0103; 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. 8379.0301. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district
has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
which the district is created.
Sec. 8379.0302. 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. 8379.0303. 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. 8379.0304. 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. 8379.0305. 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. 8379.0306. DIVISION OF DISTRICT. (a) The district
may be divided into two or more new districts only if the district:
(1) has never issued any bonds; 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 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
8379.0103 to confirm the district's creation.
(f) An order dividing the district shall:
(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) A new district created by the division of the district
shall hold a confirmation and directors' election as required by
Section 8379.0103.
(i) If the creation of the new district is confirmed, the
new district shall provide the election date and results to the
commission.
(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) Municipal consent to the creation of the district and to
the inclusion of land in the district granted under Section
8379.0104 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.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8379.0401. 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 8379.0403.
(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. 8379.0402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 8379.0401, 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. 8379.0403. 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. 8379.0501. 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. 8379.0502. 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. 8379.0503. 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 Brazoria County Municipal Utility District
No. 77 initially includes all the territory contained in the
following area:
BEING A 705.269 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF THE CHESTER GORBET
SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 64, THE H.T. & B. RR., SECTION 5, ABSTRACT NO.
235 AND THE H.T. & B. RR., SECTION 43, ABSTRACT 256, BRAZORIA
COUNTY, TEXAS; SAID 705.269 ACRE TRACT OF LAND BEING OUT OF AND A
PART OF A TRACT OF LAND CONVEYED TO AA SHARP INVESTMENTS, LTD., AS
DESCRIBED IN DEED RECORDED UNDER COUNTY CLERK'S FILE NO. 2007068904
OF THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF BRAZORIA COUNTY, TEXAS, SAID
705.269 ACRE TRACT OF LAND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY
METES AND BOUNDS IN FOUR TRACTS OF LAND AS FOLLOWS:
TRACT 1:
BEGINNING at the southern "cut back" corner of State Highway
288 west right-of-way line and the north right-of-way line of
County Road 60;
THENCE, South 87°06'10" West, 150.29 feet along the north line
of said County Road 60 to an interior corner of the herein described
tract;
THENCE, South 02°53'50" East, 60.00 feet to the centerline of
said County Road 60 for a point of corner;
THENCE, in a westerly direction along the south line of the
herein tract as follow:
THENCE, South 87°23'21" West, 3589.69 feet along the
centerline of said County Road 60 to the centerline of County Road
48 for a point for corner;
THENCE, South 02°30'30" East, 1045.03 feet along the
centerline of said County Road 48 to an angle point for corner;
THENCE, South 87°23'00" West, 3786.31 feet to the Southwest
corner of the herein described tract;
THENCE, in a northerly direction along the west line of the
herein tract as follow:
THENCE, North 02°48'42" West, 1309.92 feet to an interior
corner;
THENCE, South 87°04'08" West, 484.20 feet to an angle point
for corner;
THENCE, North 03°21'02" West, 1884.72 feet to the Northwest
corner of the herein described tract;
THENCE, in an easterly direction along the north line of the
herein tract as follow:
THENCE, North 87°22'55" East, 2011.99 feet to an angle point
for corner;
THENCE, South 02°37'05" East, 1078.95 feet to an interior
corner;
THENCE, North 87°22'55" East, 2051.99 feet to the centerline
of said County Road 48 for a point for corner;
THENCE, North 15°20'43" West, 1106.13 feet along the
centerline of said County Road 48 to an angle point for corner;
THENCE, North 87°22'55" East, 5022.48 feet to the Northeast
corner of the herein described tract and being in the west
right-of-way line of said State Highway 288 to a point for corner;
THENCE, in a southeasterly direction along the west line of
said State Highway 288 as follows:
THENCE, South 02°37'30" East, 313.81 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE, South 01°22'30" West, 548.62 feet to the beginning of
a curve to the right;
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the right, having a
chord of South 24°37'30" West, 822.44 feet, a radius of 1041.74
feet, and a central angle of 46°30'00", a distance of 845.45 feet to
a point for corner;
THENCE, South 47°52'30" West, 220.75 feet to the beginning of
a curve to the left;
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the left, having a
chord of South 25°48'15" West, 345.34 feet, a radius of 485.37 feet,
and a central angle of 41°40'43", a distance of 353.07 feet to a "cut
back" corner;
THENCE, South 43°48'16" West, 72.77 feet to the PLACE OF
BEGINNING; containing 463.725 acres of land, more or less.
TRACT 2:
BEGINNING at the southeast corner of the herein described
tract and being on the south line of said Chester Gorbet Survey and
the west right-of-way line of State Highway 288;
THENCE, South 87°22'55" West, 331.99 feet along the south line
of said Gorbet Survey to the Southwest corner of the herein
described tract;
THENCE, North 02°37'05" West, 1465.62 feet along the west line
of this tract to the Northwest corner of the herein described tract
and being the beginning of a non-tangent curve to the right, said
point being in the west line of said State Highway 288;
THENCE, in a southeasterly direction along the west line of
said State Highway 288 as follow:
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the right, having a
chord of South 33°01'25" East, 272.09 feet, a radius of 1273.24
feet, and a central angle of 12°16'03", a distance of 272.61 feet to
a point for corner;
THENCE, North 63°06'36" East, 120.51 feet to the beginning of
a non-tangent curve to the right;
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the right, having a
chord of South 13°57'24" East, 428.87 feet, a radius of 1091.35
feet, and a central angle of 22°39'47", a distance of 431.68 feet to
a point for corner;
THENCE, South 02°37'30" East, 859.99 feet to the PLACE OF
BEGINNING; containing 9.672 acres of land, more or less.
TRACT 3:
BEGINNING at the northern "cut back" corner of State Highway
288 east right-of-way line and the south right-of-way line of
County Road 60;
THENCE, North 87°06'10" East, 217.49 feet along the south
right-of-way line of said County Road 60 to the Northeast corner of
the herein described tract;
THENCE, South 02°37'05" East, 2087.18 feet along the east line
to the Southeast corner of the herein described tract;
THENCE, South 87°22'55" West, 1019.22 feet along the south
line to the Southwest corner of the herein described tract; said
point being in the east right-of-way line of said State Highway 288;
THENCE, in a northerly direction along the east line of said
State Highway 288 as follow:
THENCE, North 02°37'35" West, 313.22 feet to an angle point
for corner;
THENCE, North 01°22'30" East, 548.47 feet to the beginning of
a curve to the right;
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the right, having a
chord of North 24°37'30" East, 822.72, a radius of 1041.74 feet, and
a central angle of 46°31'00", a distance of 845.76 feet to a point
for corner;
THENCE, North 47°52'30" East, 220.52 feet to the beginning of
a curve to the left;
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the left, having a
chord of North 25°45'18" East, 345.34, a radius of 458.37 feet, and a
central angle of 44°15'34", a distance of 354.08 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE, North 43°48'11" East, 72.77 feet to the PLACE OF
BEGINNING; containing 38.512 acres of land, more or less.
TRACT 4:
BEGINNING at the southern "cut back" corner of State Highway
288 east right-of-way line and the north right-of-way line of
County Road 60;
THENCE, in a northeasterly direction along the east line of
said State Highway 288 as follow:
THENCE, North 49°19'36" West, 78.78 feet to the beginning of a
non-tangent curve to the left;
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the left, having a
chord of North 31°22'42" West, 339.80, a radius of 458.37 feet, and a
central angle of 43°30'46", a distance of 348.11 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE, North 53°07'30" West, 54.27 feet to the beginning of a
curve to the right;
THENCE, along the arc of said curve to the right, having a
chord of North 32°52'30" West, 881.38, a radius of 1273.24 feet, and
a central angle of 40°30'00", a distance of 900.00 feet to a point
for corner;
THENCE, North 12°37'30" West, 571.47 feet to a point for
corner;
THENCE, North 02°37'30" West, 364.45 feet to the Northwest
corner of the herein described tract;
THENCE, in an easterly direction along the north line of the
herein tract as follow:
THENCE, North 87°22'55" West, 1025.00 feet to an interior
corner;
THENCE, North 02°37'05" West, 438.06 feet to an angle point
for corner;
THENCE, North 87°22'55" East, 534.76 feet to an angle point
for corner;
THENCE, South 02°37'05" East, 23.06 feet to an interior
corner;
THENCE, North 87°22'55" East, 1853.42 feet to an exterior
corner;
THENCE, South 02°37'05" East, 893.97 feet to an interior
corner;
THENCE, North 87°07'26" East, 2710.71 feet to an exterior
corner;
THENCE, South 02°52'34" East, 1692.20 feet to the Southeast
corner of the herein described tract and being in the centerline of
said County Road 60 for a point for corner;
THENCE, in a westerly direction along the south line of the
herein tract as follow:
THENCE, South 87°10'14" West, 923.16 feet along the
centerline of said County Road 60 to an angle point for corner;
THENCE, North 02°52'34" West, 947.37 feet along the
centerline of County Road 65 to an angle point for corner;
THENCE, South 87°22'55" West, 4180.39 feet to an interior
corner;
THENCE, South 02°37'05" East, 858.91 feet to the north line of
said County Road 60;
THENCE, South 87°06'10" West, 217.50 feet to the POINT OF
BEGINNING and containing 193.360 acres of land; more or less, for a
TOTAL ACREAGE of 705.269 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
8379, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of
this Act, is amended by adding Section 8379.0307 to read as follows:
Sec. 8379.0307. 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 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, 2019.
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