By: Jetton H.B. No. 1154
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the requirement that certain political subdivisions
cause certain information to be posted on an Internet website.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 403.0241(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) For each special purpose district described by
Subsection (b), the database must include:
(1) the name of the special purpose district;
(2) the name of each board member of the special
purpose district;
(3) contact information for the main office of the
special purpose district, including the physical address, the
mailing address, and the main telephone number;
(4) if the special purpose district employs a person
as a general manager or executive director, or in another position
to perform duties or functions comparable to those of a general
manager or executive director, the name of the employee;
(5) if the special purpose district contracts with a
utility operator, contact information for a person representing the
utility operator, including a mailing address and a telephone
number;
(6) if the special purpose district contracts with a
tax assessor-collector, contact information for a person
representing the tax assessor-collector, including a mailing
address and telephone number;
(7) the address of the special purpose district's
Internet website [address] if the district maintains an Internet
website or the Internet website or websites used by the district to
comply with Section 2051.153, Government Code, and Section 26.18,
Tax Code, if the district does not maintain an Internet website, if
any;
(8) the information the special purpose district is
required to report under Section 140.008(b) or (g), Local
Government Code, including any revenue obligations;
(9) the total amount of bonds authorized by the voters
of the special purpose district that are payable wholly or partly
from ad valorem taxes, excluding refunding bonds if refunding bonds
were separately authorized and excluding contract revenue bonds;
(10) the aggregate initial principal amount of all
bonds issued by the special purpose district that are payable
wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, excluding refunding bonds
and contract revenue bonds;
(11) the rate of any sales and use tax the special
purpose district imposes; [and]
(12) for a special purpose district that imposes an ad
valorem tax:
(A) the ad valorem tax rate for the most recent
tax year if the district is a district as defined by Section 49.001,
Water Code; or
(B) the table of ad valorem tax rates for the most
recent tax year described by Section 26.16, Tax Code, in the form
required by that section, if the district is not a district as
defined by Section 49.001, Water Code; and
(13) a link to the Internet website described by
Section 49.062(g), Water Code, with a plain-language description of
how a resident may petition to require that board meetings of
certain special purpose districts be held not further than 10 miles
from the boundary of the district.
SECTION 2. Section 551.1283, Government Code, is amended by
adding subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) A district shall provide links to Internet websites used
by the district to comply with Section 2051.153, Government Code,
and Section 26.18, Tax Code, on the district's Internet website if
the district maintains an Internet website.
SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 2051, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2051.153 to read as follows:
Sec. 2051.153. FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION OF
SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS. (a) In this section, "special purpose
district" means a political subdivision of this state with
geographic boundaries that define the subdivision's territorial
jurisdiction. The term does not include a municipality, county,
junior college district, independent school district, or political
subdivision with statewide jurisdiction.
(b) This section applies only to a special purpose district
that:
(1) is authorized by the state by a general or special
law to impose an ad valorem tax;
(2) during the most recent fiscal year imposed an ad
valorem tax;
(3) during the most recent fiscal year:
(A) had bonds outstanding;
(B) had gross receipts from operations, loans,
taxes, or contributions in excess of $250,000; or
(C) had cash and temporary investments in excess
of $250,000; and
(4) at the beginning of the most recent fiscal year,
had a population of 500 or more people, as determined by the
governing body of the special purpose district.
(c) This section prevails over Sections 2051.151 and
2051.152.
(d) A special purpose district shall post or cause to be
posted on an Internet website the following information, if
applicable:
(1) the name of the special purpose district;
(2) the name of each member of the governing body of
the special purpose district;
(3) the term of office for each member of the governing
body of the special purpose district;
(4) contact information for the main office of the
special purpose district, including the physical address, the
mailing address, and the telephone number;
(5) if the special purpose district employs a person
as a general manager or executive director, or in another position
to perform duties or functions comparable to those of a general
manager or executive director, the name of the employee;
(6) if the special purpose district contracts with a
utility operator, contact information for a person representing the
utility operator, including a mailing address and the telephone
number;
(7) if the special purpose district contracts with a
tax assessor-collector, contact information for a person
representing the tax assessor-collector, including a mailing
address and the telephone number;
(8) the rate of the ad valorem tax of the special
purpose district;
(9) the rate of the sales and use tax of the special
purpose district, if the special purpose district imposes a sales
and use tax;
(10) any notice of tax hearing required to be given
pursuant to Chapter 26, Tax Code, or Section 49.236, Water Code;
(11) the regular location or locations of meetings of
the governing body of the special purpose district and the regular
schedule of meetings, if there is a regular schedule;
(12) a link to the Internet website described by
Section 49.062(g), Water Code;
(13) each notice of a meeting of the governing body of
the special purpose district under Subchapter C, Chapter 551, for
meetings conducted in the immediately prior and current calendar
years;
(14) the minutes of a public meeting of the governing
body of the special purpose district under Section 551.021 for
meetings conducted in the immediately prior and current calendar
years; and
(15) the most recent financial audit of the special
purpose district.
(e) A special purpose district may satisfy all or part of
the requirements of this section by linking or referencing to
another Internet website to the extent information required to be
posted is posted on such other Internet website.
SECTION 4. Section 49.0631, Water Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 49.0631. [MEETING] INFORMATION ON WATER BILL. A
district providing potable water or sewer service shall as a part of
the district's billing process include on a district's bill to a
customer the following statement: "For more information about the
district, including information about the district's board and
board meetings, please go to the Comptroller's Special Purpose
District Public Information Database or (district's Internet
website if the district maintains an Internet website or Internet
website or websites used by the district to comply with Section
2051.153, Government Code, and Section 26.18, Tax Code, if the
district does not maintain an Internet website)." The statement may
be altered to provide the current Internet website address of
[either] the database created under Section 403.0241, Government
Code, [or] the district, or website or websites used by the district
to comply with Section 2051.153, Government Code, and Section
26.18, Tax Code.
SECTION 5. Sections 2051.153(d)(13) and (14), Government
Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a meeting held on or after
the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.