By: Reynolds (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 2938
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;
  May 10, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2017, reported
  adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following
  vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2938 By:  Perry
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District of
  Fort Bend County, Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 1 and 8, Chapter 986, Acts of the 78th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1.  AUTHORITY. The Sienna Plantation Levee
  Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas, is a conservation
  and reclamation district created under the authority of Section 59,
  Article XVI, and Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution.  It is 
  granted road utility district authority under Section 52(b)(3),
  Article III, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 441, Transportation
  Code, including the authority to repair and maintain streets and
  roadways in the district. In addition, the district has the powers
  of a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.065,
  Transportation Code, provided, however, that Section 451.065(d),
  Transportation Code, shall not apply to the district.
         Sec. 8.  BONDS.  (a)  The district may issue bonds, notes,
  and other obligations secured by revenues or contract payments from
  any lawful source other than ad valorem taxation without an
  election.  The district may issue bonds, notes, and other
  obligations secured in whole or in part by ad valorem taxation, and
  levy ad valorem taxes for the payment thereof, only if the issuance
  is approved by a two-thirds majority of the voters of the district
  voting at an election called and held for that purpose.
         (b)  The outstanding principal amount of bonds, notes, and
  other obligations issued to finance parks and recreational
  facilities supported by ad valorem taxation may not exceed an
  amount equal to two percent of the taxable property in the district.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The legislature validates and confirms all
  acts and proceedings of the board of directors of the Sienna
  Plantation Levee Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas,
  that were taken before the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to any
  matter that on the effective date of this Act:
               (1)  is involved in litigation if the litigation
  ultimately results in the matter being held invalid by a final
  judgment of a court; or
               (2)  has been held invalid by a final judgment of a
  court.
         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.  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, 2017.
 
  * * * * *