Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1410 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 04/14/2021

                    87R16572 MP-F
 By: Murphy, Israel H.B. No. 1410


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the issuance of bonds by certain conservation and
 reclamation districts.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 49.4645, Water Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
 follows:
 (a)  A district all or part of which is located in Bastrop
 County, Bexar County, Waller County, Travis County, Williamson
 County, Harris County, Galveston County, Brazoria County,
 Montgomery County, or Fort Bend County may issue bonds supported by
 ad valorem taxes to pay for the development and maintenance of
 recreational facilities only if the bonds are authorized by a
 majority vote of the voters of the district voting in an election
 held for that purpose. Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), the
 [The] outstanding principal amount of bonds, notes, and other
 obligations issued to finance parks and recreational facilities
 supported by ad valorem taxes may not exceed an amount equal to one
 percent of the value of the taxable property in the district [or, if
 supported by contract taxes under Section 49.108, may not exceed an
 amount equal to one percent of the value of the taxable property in
 the districts making payments under the contract] as shown by the
 tax rolls of the central appraisal district at the time of the
 issuance of the bonds, notes, and other obligations [or an amount
 greater than the estimated cost provided in the park plan under
 Subsection (b), whichever is smaller]. To establish the value of
 the taxable property in a district under this section, the district
 may use an estimate of the value provided by the central appraisal
 district. The district may not issue bonds supported by ad valorem
 taxes to pay for the development and maintenance of:
 (1)  indoor or outdoor swimming pools; or
 (2)  golf courses.
 (a-1)  The outstanding principal amount of bonds, notes, and
 other obligations issued to finance a recreational facility under
 Subsection (a) may exceed one percent of the value of the taxable
 property in the district if the district has:
 (1)  a ratio of debt to certified assessed valuation of
 10 percent or less;
 (2)  a credit rating that conforms to commission rules;
 (3)  a credit enhanced rating on the district's
 proposed bond issue that conforms to commission rules; or
 (4)  a contract with a political subdivision or an
 entity acting on behalf of a political subdivision under which the
 political subdivision or the entity agrees to provide to the
 district taxes or other revenues, as consideration for the
 district's development or acquisition of the facility, including a
 contract under Section 49.108.
 SECTION 2.  Section 54.016(e), Water Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (e)  A city may provide in its written consent to the
 inclusion of land in a district, that the district construct all
 facilities to serve the land in accordance with plans and
 specifications which have been approved by the city. The city may
 also provide in its written consent that the city shall have the
 right to inspect all facilities being constructed by a district.
 The city's consent to the inclusion of land in the district may also
 contain restrictions on the terms and provisions of the district's
 bonds and notes issued to provide service to the land and conditions
 on the sale of the district's bonds and notes if the restrictions
 and conditions do not generally render the bonds and notes of
 districts in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction
 unmarketable. The city's consent to the inclusion of land in a
 district may restrict the purposes for which a district may issue
 bonds to [the] purposes authorized by law for the district [of the
 purchase, construction, acquisition, repair, extension and
 improvement of land, easements, works, improvements, facilities,
 plants, equipment and appliances necessary to:
 [(1)  provide a water supply for municipal uses,
 domestic uses and commercial purposes;
 [(2)   collect, transport, process, dispose of and
 control all domestic, industrial or communal wastes whether in
 fluid, solid or composite state; and
 [(3)  gather, conduct, divert and control local storm
 water or other local harmful excesses of water in the district and
 the payment of organization expenses, operation expenses during
 construction and interest during construction].
 SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
 54.016(e), Water Code, does not affect the terms of a city's
 resolution or ordinance adopted before the effective date of this
 Act that constitutes a written consent under Section 54.016 of that
 code.
 SECTION 4.  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, 2021.