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  S.B. No. 173
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to civil remedy of violations of certain municipal health
  and safety ordinances.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (b), Section 54.018, Local Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  In an action under this section, the municipality may
  also bring:
               (1)  a claim for civil penalties under Section 54.017;
  and
               (2)  an action in rem against the structure that may
  result in a judgment against the structure as well as a judgment
  against the defendant.
         SECTION 2.  Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (i), Section
  214.003, Local Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A home-rule municipality may bring an action in district
  court against an owner of property that is not in substantial
  compliance with:
               (1)  the municipal ordinances regarding:
                     (A) [(1)]  fire protection;
                     (B) [(2)]  structural integrity;
                     (C) [(3)]  zoning; or
                     (D) [(4)]  disposal of refuse; or
               (2)  a municipal ordinance described by Section
  54.012(1), (2), (5), (6), (7), or (9).
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the court may
  appoint as a receiver for the property a nonprofit organization or
  an individual with a demonstrated record of rehabilitating
  properties if the court finds that:
               (1)  the structures on the property are in violation of
  the standards set forth in Section 214.001(b) and an ordinance
  described by Subsection (a);
               (2)  notice of violation was given to the record owner
  of the property; and
               (3)  a public hearing as required by Section 214.001(b) 
  [214.001(d)] has been conducted.
         (c)  A receiver appointed under Subsection (b) may act [The
  court may appoint] as a receiver for any property, including
  historic property subject to Section 214.00111 [a nonprofit
  organization or an individual with a demonstrated record of
  rehabilitating historical buildings if the court finds that:
               [(1)     the structures on the property are in violation
  of the standards established under Section 214.001(b) and an
  ordinance described by Subsection (a);
               [(2)     the structure has been reviewed by the municipal
  historic preservation board and the structure meets the criteria
  set forth in Section 214.00111;
               [(3)     notice of the violation was given to the record
  owner of the property; and
               [(4)     a public hearing as required by Section 214.001
  has been conducted].
         (i)  Any record lienholder may, after initiation of an action
  by a municipality:
               (1)  intervene in the action; and
               (2)  request appointment as a receiver:
                     (A)  under the same conditions as the nonprofit
  organization or individual; and
                     (B)  on a demonstration to the court of an ability
  and willingness to rehabilitate the property.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 173 passed the Senate on
  March 17, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 173 passed the House on
  May 25, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor