HBA-SEP H.B. 2681 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2681
By: Allen
Ways & Means
3/30/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Since completion of Joe Pool Lake, the City of Grand Prairie has attempted
to attract a hotel and resort development to the lake's Estes Peninsula
which is technically part of the city's park system.  The placement of a
city owned convention and conference center on the peninsula may enhance
the ability to attract a resort development that could compete nationally
to bring tourist and business dollars to Texas. However, revenue from a
hotel occupancy tax which is authorized to be used for the construction and
operation of convention centers is prohibited from being used for an area
or facility that is part of a municipal parks and recreation system.  House
Bill 2681 authorizes a certain municipality that acquires an interest in
real property that by the terms of the acquisition is required to be
maintained as park property to use a municipal hotel occupancy tax to
construct a convention center facility on the acquired real property. 

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 2681 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a
municipality that is located in three counties, has a population of less
than 120,000, and acquires by purchase or lease with a term of not less
than 20 years an interest in real property that by the terms of the
acquisition is required to be maintained as park property, to use a
municipal hotel occupancy tax to acquire, construct, improve, and equip a
venue project that is a convention center facility or related
infrastructure to be constructed on the acquired real property.  The
municipality is also authorized to pledge the revenue to the payment of
bonds or other obligations the municipality issues to finance the
convention center facility infrastructure.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.