HBA-CBW H.B. 1937 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1937
By: Dutton
Land & Resource Management
4/3/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In many large cities, particularly in lower socioeconomic areas, streets
are unpaved and the water and sewer drainage systems are outmoded or
failing.  At the same time, large cities are annexing surrounding
unincorporated areas and allowing these newly annexed areas to take full
advantage of all municipal services, including street maintenance and water
and sewage drainage service.  House Bill 1937 prohibits a municipality with
a certain population from including an area in its municipal annexation
plan until certain conditions are met. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1937 amends the Local Government Code to prohibit a municipality
with a population of 1.6 million or more from  including an area in its
municipal annexation plan or annexing an area until : 

  _water and wastewater services are made available to each lot adjacent to
each street within the corporate boundaries of the municipality; and 

  _each street with an adjoining ditch within the corporate boundaries of
the municipality is converted to a street improved with curbs, gutters, and
storm sewers. 

The bill provides that this Act applies to the annexation of an area that
is not included in a municipal annexation plan during the period beginning
December 1, 1999, and ending December 31, 2002, regardless of the date on
which the first hearing notice is required. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.