Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5318 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/23/2023

                    88R17365 MP-F
 By: Metcalf H.B. No. 5318


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Water Control and
 Improvement District No. 6; 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 I, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
 Code, is amended by adding Chapter 9058 to read as follows:
 CHAPTER 9058.  MONTGOMERY COUNTY WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT
 DISTRICT NO. 6
 SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 9058.0101.  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 Montgomery County Water
 Control and Improvement District No. 6.
 Sec. 9058.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT.  The district is a water
 control and improvement district created under Section 59, Article
 XVI, Texas Constitution.
 Sec. 9058.0103.  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. 9058.0104.  CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The
 temporary directors may not hold an election under Section
 9058.0103 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. 9058.0105.  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 water control and improvement district as
 provided by general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
 Constitution, including the collection, transportation,
 processing, disposal, and control of domestic, industrial, or
 communal waste and the gathering, conducting, diverting, and
 control of local stormwater or other harmful excesses of water; 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. 9058.0106.  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. 9058.0201.  GOVERNING BODY; TERMS.  (a)  The district is
 governed by a board of five elected directors.
 (b)  Except as provided by Section 9058.0202, directors
 serve staggered four-year terms.
 Sec. 9058.0202.  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 9058.0103; 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 9058.0103 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 9058.0103; 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. 9058.0301.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district
 has the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
 which the district is created.
 Sec. 9058.0302.  WATER CONTROL AND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
 POWERS AND DUTIES.  The district has the powers and duties provided
 by the general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 51,
 Water Code, applicable to water control and improvement districts
 created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and
 specifically including the powers and duties authorized under
 Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Water Code.
 Sec. 9058.0303.  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. 9058.0304.  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. 9058.0305.  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 42.042 or 42.0425, Local Government Code, and
 consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of land
 in the district.
 Sec. 9058.0306.  LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. The
 district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the
 district boundaries to acquire a site or easement for:
 (1)  a recreational facility, as defined by Section
 49.462, Water Code; or
 (2)  a road project authorized by Section 9058.0303.
 SUBCHAPTER D.  GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
 Sec. 9058.0401.  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 9058.0403.
 (b)  The district must hold an election in the manner
 provided by Chapters 49 and 51, 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. 9058.0402.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX.  (a)  If
 authorized at an election held under Section 9058.0401, 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. 9058.0403.  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. 9058.0501.  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. 9058.0502.  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 Chapter 51, Water Code.
 Sec. 9058.0503.  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.
 Sec. 9058.0504.  BONDS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. (a)
 The district may develop recreational facilities and issue bonds
 for recreational facilities as provided by Chapter 49, Water Code,
 regardless of whether the district's territory overlaps with the
 territory of a political subdivision that is authorized to develop
 recreational facilities and issue bonds for recreational
 facilities under Chapter 49, Water Code.
 (b)  The authority of the district to develop recreational
 facilities and issue bonds for recreational facilities under this
 section does not limit the authority of another political
 subdivision whose territory the territory of the district may
 overlap, wholly or partly, to develop recreational facilities and
 issue bonds for recreational facilities under Chapter 49, Water
 Code.
 SECTION 2.  The Montgomery County Water Control and
 Improvement District No. 6 initially includes all the territory
 contained in the following area:
 Being 299 acres of land, more or less, located in the Raleigh
 Rogers Survey, Abstract 33, Montgomery County, Texas, out of land
 conveyed to Homeplace Lands, LLC, as recorded under Clerk's File
 No. 2012125424 of the Official Public Records of Real Property,
 Montgomery County, Texas, (O.P.R.M.C.), being comprised of two (2)
 tracts as described below; said 299 acres, more or less, being more
 particularly described as follows, with all bearings referenced to
 the Texas Coordinate System, Central Zone, NAD83 (NA2011) Epoch
 2010.00:
 TRACT 1: 105 Acres
 BEGINNING at the northeast corner of the herein described
 tract, lying in a southwesterly line of the BN & SF Railroad
 right-of-way, from which the northwest corner of a 216.521 acre
 tract, as defined under Clerk's File No. 2012125424 of the
 O.P.R.M.C., also being the southwest corner of land conveyed to
 Douglas B. & Carolyn Lee as recorded under Clerk's File
 No. 2014125321 of the O.P.R.M.C., bears NORTH 86 degrees 42 minutes
 33 seconds EAST, 2,038.61 feet;
 THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY with and adjoining said southwesterly
 line of said BN & SF Railroad right-of-way line approximately 2,789
 feet, more or less, to the southeast corner of the hereon described
 tract, lying in a northerly line of land as described in a warranty
 deed to Earle T. McCants and Edward W. McCants as recorded under
 Clerk's File No. 99002183 of the Official Public Records of Real
 Property Montgomery County, Texas (O.P.R.R.P.M.C.);
 THENCE WESTERLY approximately 3,351 feet, more or less, with
 and adjoining a northerly line of said Earle T. McCants and Edward
 W. McCants tract to the southwest corner of the herein described
 tract, also being a northerly interior corner of said McCants
 tract;
 THENCE NORTHERLY at approximately 918.7 feet, passing a
 northerly corner of said Earle T. McCants and Edward W. McCants
 tract, and continuing a total distance of 1,989 feet, more or less,
 to the northwest corner of the herein described tract;
 THENCE EASTERLY approximately 1,425 feet, more or less, to
 the POINT OF BEGINNING, and containing approximately 105 acres of
 land. This document was prepared under 22 Texas Administrative Code §
 138.95, does not reflect the results of an on the ground survey,
 and is not to be used to convey or establish interests in real
 property except those rights and interests implied or established
 by the creation or reconfiguration of the boundary of the political
 subdivision for which it was prepared.
 TRACT 2:194 Acres
 BEGINNING at a southeast corner of a tract, conveyed to David
 L. and Cathy L. Messecar, as recorded under Clerk's File
 No. 9626214 of the Official Public Records of Real Property
 Montgomery County, Texas (O.P.R.R.P.M.C.), also being the
 southwest corner of an 18.984 acre tract as described under Clerk's
 File No. 2012125424 of the Official Public Records Montgomery
 County, Texas (O.P.R.M.C.), lying in the westerly right-of-way line
 of F.M. 2854;
 THENCE SOUTH 52 degrees 53 minutes 12 seconds EAST,
 approximately 353 feet, more or less, to an easterly corner of the
 herein described tract, lying in a northwesterly line of a 2.9785
 acre tract as defined under Clerk's File No. 2018005218 of the
 O.P.R.M.C.;
 THENCE SOUTHWESTERLY approximately 699 feet, more or less,
 with and adjoining said northwesterly line of the 2.9785 acre
 tract, to a point of curvature and easterly corner of the herein
 described tract;
 THENCE SOUTHERLY approximately 448 feet, more or less, along
 a curve to the left, with and adjoining said northwesterly line of
 the 2.9785 acre tract;
 THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY approximately 154 feet, more or less,
 with and adjoining said northwesterly line of the 2.9785 acre
 tract, and a northerly line of a 123.962 acre tract as recorded
 under Clerk's File No. 2009-017518 of the O.P.R.M.C., to the
 centerline meanders of a tributary ditch of MOUND CREEK, also being
 a northerly corner of said 123.962 acre tract and an easterly corner
 of the herein described tract;
 THENCE SOUTHWESTERLY approximately 2,392 feet, more or less,
 with and adjoining the northerly line of said 123.962 acre tract and
 the centerline meanders of a tributary ditch of MOUND CREEK, to a
 southerly corner of the herein described tract;
 THENCE SOUTHERLY approximately 571 feet, more or less, with
 and adjoining a westerly line of said 123.962 acre tract, to a
 southerly corner of the herein described tract, also being the
 northeast corner of a 3.50 acre tract as defined under Clerk's File
 No. 214046987 of the O.P.R.M.C.;
 THENCE WESTERLY approximately 342 feet, more or less, with
 and adjoining the north line of said 3.50 acre tract, to a southerly
 corner of the herein defined tract;
 THENCE SOUTHWESTERLY approximately 247 feet, more or less,
 with and adjoining a westerly line of said 3.50 acre tract, to a
 southerly of the herein defined tract, lying in a northeasterly
 line of the BN & SF Railroad right-of-way;
 THENCE NORTHWESTERLY approximately 4,144 feet, more or less,
 with and adjoining said northeasterly line of the BN & SF Railroad
 right-of-way, to the northwest corner of the herein described
 tract;
 THENCE NORTH 86 degrees 42 minutes 33 seconds EAST,
 approximately 1,908 feet, more or less, to the northwest corner of a
 216.521 acre tract, as defined under Clerk's File No. 2012125424 of
 the O.P.R.M.C., also being the southwest corner of land conveyed to
 Douglas B. & Carolyn Lee as recorded under Clerk's File
 No. 2014125321 of the O.P.R.M.C., and being a northerly corner of
 the herein described tract;
 THENCE EASTERLY approximately 3,227 feet, more or less, with
 and adjoining the southerly line of said Douglas B. & Carolyn Lee
 tact and a southerly line of said David L. and Cathy L. Messecar
 tract, to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and containing approximately 194
 acres. This document was prepared under 22 Texas Administrative
 Code §138.95, does not reflect the results of an on the ground
 survey, and is not to be used to convey or establish interests in
 real property except those rights and interests implied or
 established by the creation or reconfiguration of the boundary of
 the political subdivision for which it was prepared.
 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)  Section 9058.0306, Special District Local
 Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, takes effect only if
 this Act receives a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to
 each house.
 (b)  If this Act does not receive a two-thirds vote of all the
 members elected to each house, Subchapter C, Chapter 9058, Special
 District Local Laws Code, as added by Section 1 of this Act, is
 amended by adding Section 9058.0306 to read as follows:
 Sec. 9058.0306.  NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
 not exercise the power of eminent domain.
 (c)  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, 2023.