HBA-RBT H.B. 1304 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1304
By: Gray
Natural Resources
7/28/99
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Bacliff Municipal Utility District of Galveston County (MUD) passed a
resolution asking that this bill be filed.  H.B. 1304 grants the MUD the
authority, subject to voter approval, to install, operate, and maintain
street lighting.  This bill also allows the MUD to assess its costs as an
additional charge in the monthly billing of customers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 244, Acts of the 58th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1963 (Article 8280-286, V.T.C.S.), by adding Section 2A, as
follows: 

Sec.  2A.  Authorizes the Bacliff Municipal Utility District of Galveston
County (MUD), if the actions are approved by a majority of the voters of
the MUD voting at an election called and held for that purpose, to install,
operate, and maintain street lighting within a public utility easement or
public right-of-way inside MUD boundaries.  Further authorizes the MUD to
assess the cost of installing, operating, and maintaining the street
lighting as an additional charge in the monthly billings of the MUD's
customers.  Prohibits the MUD from using money from taxes or bonds
supported by taxes for a purpose described by this section. Provides that
this section does not authorize the MUD to install, operate, or maintain
street lighting on right-of-way that is part of the designated highway
system. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.