CHAPTER 8334. HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 478
SPECIAL DISTRICT LOCAL LAWS CODE
TITLE 6. WATER AND WASTEWATER
SUBTITLE F. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 8334. HARRIS COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 478
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8334.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the district's board of directors.
(2) "Director" means a board member.
(3) "District" means the Harris County Municipal Utility
District No. 478.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.002. NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a municipal
utility district created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
Constitution.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.003. CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTORS' ELECTION REQUIRED.
The temporary directors shall hold an election to confirm the
creation of the district and to elect five permanent directors as
provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.004. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The temporary
directors may not hold an election under Section 8334.003 until
each municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial
jurisdiction the district is located has consented by ordinance
or resolution to the creation of the district and to the
inclusion of land in the district.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.005. FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT. (a) The
district is created to serve a public purpose and benefit.
(b) The district is created to accomplish the purposes of:
(1) a municipal utility district as provided by general law and
Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and
(2) Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, that relate to
the construction, acquisition, or improvement of macadamized,
graveled, or paved roads described by Section 54.234, Water Code,
or improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.006. INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. (a) The district is
initially composed of the territory described by Section 2 of the
Act creating this chapter.
(b) The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of the
Act creating this chapter form a closure. A mistake made in the
field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative
process does not affect the district's:
(1) organization, existence, or validity;
(2) right to issue any type of bond for the purposes for which
the district is created or to pay the principal of and interest
on a bond;
(3) right to impose a tax; or
(4) legality or operation.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 8334.051. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district is
governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 8334.052, directors serve
staggered four-year terms.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.052. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) On or after the
effective date of the Act creating this chapter, the owner or
owners of a majority of the assessed value of the real property
in the district may submit a petition to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality requesting that the commission appoint as
temporary directors the five persons named in the petition. The
commission shall appoint as temporary directors the five persons
named in the petition.
(b) Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under Section
8334.003; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the effective date of the Act
creating this chapter.
(c) If permanent directors have not been elected under Section
8334.003 and the terms of the temporary directors have expired,
successor temporary directors shall be appointed or reappointed
as provided by Subsection (d) to serve terms that expire on the
earlier of:
(1) the date permanent directors are elected under Section
8334.003; or
(2) the fourth anniversary of the date of the appointment or
reappointment.
(d) If Subsection (c) applies, the owner or owners of a majority
of the assessed value of the real property in the district may
submit a petition to the commission requesting that the
commission appoint as successor temporary directors the five
persons named in the petition. The commission shall appoint as
successor temporary directors the five persons named in the
petition.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 8334.101. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district has the
powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for which
the district is created.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.102. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND DUTIES.
The district has the powers and duties provided by the general
law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code,
applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section
59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.103. AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. (a) Under Section
52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may design,
acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, and convey
to this state, a county, or a municipality for operation and
maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved roads described by
Section 54.234, Water Code, or improvements, including storm
drainage, in aid of those roads.
(b) The district may exercise the powers provided by this
section without submitting a petition to or obtaining approval
from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as required by
Section 54.234, Water Code.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.104. APPROVAL OF ROAD PROJECT. (a) The district may
not undertake a road project authorized by Section 8334.103
unless:
(1) each municipality or county that will operate and maintain
the road has approved the plans and specifications of the road
project, if a municipality or county will operate and maintain
the road; or
(2) the Texas Transportation Commission has approved the plans
and specifications of the road project, if the state will operate
and maintain the road.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a), the district is not
required to obtain approval from the Texas Transportation
Commission to design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds
for, improve, or convey a road project.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.105. COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT ORDINANCE OR
RESOLUTION. The district shall comply with all applicable
requirements of any ordinance or resolution that is adopted under
Section 54.016 or 54.0165, Water Code, and that consents to the
creation of the district or to the inclusion of land in the
district.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.106. LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. The
district may not exercise the power of eminent domain outside the
district to acquire a site or easement for:
(1) a road project authorized by Section 8334.103; or
(2) a recreational facility as defined by Section 49.462, Water
Code.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8334.151. ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS. (a) The
district may issue, without an election, bonds and other
obligations secured by:
(1) revenue other than ad valorem taxes; or
(2) contract payments described by Section 8334.153.
(b) The district must hold an election in the manner provided by
Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to obtain voter approval before
the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds payable
from ad valorem taxes.
(c) The district may not issue bonds payable from ad valorem
taxes to finance a road project unless the issuance is approved
by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the district voters voting
at an election held for that purpose.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.152. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 8334.151, the
district may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable
property in the district in accordance with Section 49.107, Water
Code.
(b) The board shall determine the tax rate. The rate may not
exceed the rate approved at the election.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.153. CONTRACT TAXES. (a) In accordance with Section
49.108, Water Code, the district may impose a tax other than an
operation and maintenance tax and use the revenue derived from
the tax to make payments under a contract after the provisions of
the contract have been approved by a majority of the district
voters voting at an election held for that purpose.
(b) A contract approved by the district voters may contain a
provision stating that the contract may be modified or amended by
the board without further voter approval.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 8334.201. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS.
The district may issue bonds or other obligations payable wholly
or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact fees, revenue, contract
payments, grants, or other district money, or any combination of
those sources, to pay for any authorized district purpose.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.202. TAXES FOR BONDS. At the time the district issues
bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, the board
shall provide for the annual imposition of a continuing direct ad
valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, while all or
part of the bonds are outstanding as required and in the manner
provided by Sections 54.601 and 54.602, Water Code.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 8334.203. BONDS FOR ROAD PROJECTS. At the time of
issuance, the total principal amount of bonds or other
obligations issued or incurred to finance road projects and
payable from ad valorem taxes may not exceed one-fourth of the
assessed value of the real property in the district.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
508, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.