HBA-KDB S.B. 517 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 517 By: Lucio Land & Resource Management 4/17/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is concern that colonias lack basic services such as water, wastewater systems, electricity, and paved roads. Colonias may be better served if counties in which the colonias are located are allowed to regulate land development to prevent the proliferation of substandard housing developments. Senate Bill 517 sets forth provisions authorizing a county to regulate certain aspects of land development in its unincorporated areas. 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 Senate Bill 517 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county by order to regulate land development in the unincorporated area of the county by adopting certain building codes and regulations relating to buildings, lots, and tracts. If such an order conflicts with an ordinance of a municipality, the municipal ordinance prevails within the municipality's jurisdiction to the extent of the conflict. The bill entitles the county, in a suit brought by the county attorney or other prosecuting attorney representing the county in the district court, to appropriate injunctive relief to prevent the violation or threatened violation of an order relating to regulation of land development in counties from continuing or occurring.. The bill provides that it is a Class C misdemeanor if a person violates a restriction or prohibition imposed by such an order. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.