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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the powers of the TexAmericas Center, including its |
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authority to issue bonds. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 3503.101(b), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The authority may exercise any power or duty necessary |
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or appropriate to carry out a project described by Section |
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3503.003(a)(3) and the purposes of this chapter, including the |
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power to: |
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(1) sue and be sued, and plead and be impleaded, in its |
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own name; |
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(2) adopt an official seal; |
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(3) adopt, enforce, and amend rules for the conduct of |
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its affairs; |
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(4) acquire, hold, own, pledge, and dispose of its |
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revenue, income, receipts, and money from any source; |
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(5) select its depository; |
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(6) acquire, own, rent, lease, accept, hold, or |
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dispose of any property, or any interest in property, including |
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rights or easements, in performing its duties and exercising its |
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powers under this chapter, by purchase, exchange, gift, assignment, |
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sale, lease, or other method; |
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(7) hold, manage, operate, or improve the property; |
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(8) sell, assign, lease, encumber, mortgage, or |
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otherwise dispose of property, or any interest in property, and |
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relinquish a property right, title, claim, lien, interest, |
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easement, or demand, however acquired; |
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(9) perform an activity authorized by Subdivision (8) |
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by public or private sale, with or without public bidding, |
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notwithstanding any other law; |
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(10) lease or rent any land and building, structure, |
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or facility from or to any person to carry out a chapter purpose; |
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(11) request and accept an appropriation, grant, |
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allocation, subsidy, guarantee, aid, service, labor, material, or |
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gift, from the federal government, the state, a public agency or |
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political subdivision, or any other source; |
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(12) operate and maintain an office and appoint and |
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determine the duties, tenure, qualifications, and compensation of |
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officers, employees, agents, professional advisors and counselors, |
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including financial consultants, accountants, attorneys, |
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architects, engineers, appraisers, and financing experts, as |
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considered necessary or advisable by the board; |
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(13) borrow money and issue bonds, payable solely from |
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all or a portion of any authority revenue, by resolution or order of |
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the board and without the necessity of an election; |
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(14) set and collect rents, rates, fees, and charges |
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regarding the property and any services provided by the authority; |
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(15) exercise the powers Chapters 373 and 380, Local |
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Government Code, grant to a municipality for the development of |
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housing and expansion of economic development and commercial |
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activity; |
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(16) exercise the powers Chapter 49, Water Code, |
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grants to a general-law district; |
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(17) exercise the powers Chapter 54, Water Code, |
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grants to a municipal utility district; |
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(18) exercise the powers Chapter 552, Transportation |
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Code, grants to a road utility district; |
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(19) exercise the powers Subchapter C, Chapter 271, |
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Local Government Code, grants to a municipality or county; |
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(20) exercise the powers Chapter 552, Local Government |
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Code, grants to a municipality for the provision of municipal |
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utilities; |
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(21) contract and be contracted with, in the |
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authority's own name, another person in the performance of the |
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authority's powers or duties to carry out a project described by |
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Section 3503.003(a)(3), or to accomplish the purposes of this |
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chapter for a period of years, on the terms, and by competitive |
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bidding or by negotiated contract, all as the board considers |
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appropriate, desirable, and in the best interests of the authority |
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and the accomplishment of chapter purposes; |
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(22) acquire, hold, own, sell, assign, lease, |
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encumber, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any real, personal, or |
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mixed property located outside the perimeter of the property |
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described by Section 3503.004 if the other property enhances or |
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facilitates the development, redevelopment, maintenance, or |
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expansion of new and existing businesses, industry, or commercial |
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activity on the property; |
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(23) exercise the powers Chapter 22, Transportation |
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Code, grants to a municipality or county; |
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(24) exercise the powers Chapter 379B, Local |
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Government Code, grants to a defense base development authority; |
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(25) exercise the powers of a municipality under |
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Chapters 211 and 212, Local Government Code, in the territory of the |
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authority, including an area of the authority that is in the |
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boundaries of a municipality's limited purpose jurisdiction and |
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extraterritorial jurisdiction. On annexation of an area of the |
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authority for full purposes by a municipality, the authority's |
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power to regulate the area under Chapters 211 and 212 expires. The |
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authority regains the power in an area if the municipality |
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disannexes the area; [and] |
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(26) fund and carry out a project the board determines |
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will promote or support an active military base located in the same |
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county as the authority to prevent closure or realignment of the |
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base and attract new military missions to the base, including a |
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project to create jobs, retain jobs, grant or loan money to a |
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federal entity, make improvements to infrastructure, buildings, or |
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land, or acquire land; and |
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(27) for a fee, provide services or operate facilities |
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inside or outside the boundaries of the authority and this state to |
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promote, enhance, develop, or assist a person in the creation of a |
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new business, industry, or commercial activity in the boundaries of |
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the authority. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 3503, Special District |
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Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 3503.113 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 3503.113. POWERS AND AUTHORITIES OF DEFENSE BASE |
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DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. (a) The authority may exercise the powers |
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given to a defense base development authority created under Chapter |
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379B, Local Government Code. |
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(b) This chapter prevails over Chapter 379B, Local |
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Government Code, in the event of a conflict. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 3503, Special District |
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Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 3503.205 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 3503.205. OBLIGATIONS AND CREDIT AGREEMENTS. (a) The |
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authority may issue, sell, and deliver obligations and execute |
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credit agreements as provided by Chapter 1371, Government Code. |
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(b) The authority may delegate its authority in connection |
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with the issuance of bonds in the same manner as an issuer under |
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Chapter 1371, Government Code. |
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SECTION 4. (a) The legal notice of the intention to |
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introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this |
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Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a |
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copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies, |
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officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished |
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under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has |
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submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed |
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its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives within the required time. |
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(d) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this |
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state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect |
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to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled |
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and accomplished. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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