CHAPTER 8348. BROWN'S RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 OF GRAYSON COUNTY
SPECIAL DISTRICT LOCAL LAWS CODE
TITLE 6. WATER AND WASTEWATER
SUBTITLE F. MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 8348. BROWN'S RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 OF
GRAYSON COUNTY
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8348.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the district's board of directors.
(2) "Director" means a board member.
(3) "District" means the Brown's Ranch Municipal Utility
District No. 1 of Grayson County.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.002. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.003. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.004. CONSENT OF MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED. The temporary
directors may not hold an election under Section 8348.003 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.005. 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, improvement, operation, or
maintenance of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads, or
improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those roads.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.006. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 8348.051. GOVERNING BODY; TERMS. (a) The district is
governed by a board of five elected directors.
(b) Except as provided by Section 8348.052, directors serve
staggered four-year terms.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.052. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a) On or after September
1, 2009, 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
8348.003; or
(2) September 1, 2013.
(c) If permanent directors have not been elected under Section
8348.003 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
8348.003; 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 8348.101. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.102. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.103. AUTHORITY FOR ROAD PROJECTS. Under Section 52,
Article III, Texas Constitution, the district may design,
acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate,
maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality
for operation and maintenance macadamized, graveled, or paved
roads, or improvements, including storm drainage, in aid of those
roads.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.104. ROAD STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. (a) A road
project must meet all applicable construction standards, zoning
and subdivision requirements, and regulations of each
municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial
jurisdiction the road project is located.
(b) If a road project is not located in the corporate limits or
extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, the road project
must meet all applicable construction standards, subdivision
requirements, and regulations of each county in which the road
project is located.
(c) If the state will maintain and operate the road, the Texas
Transportation Commission must approve the plans and
specifications of the road project.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.105. COSTS OF ROAD PROJECT. The district shall bear
the cost of maintaining, improving, operating, and repairing a
road authorized by Section 8348.103 that is located in the
district, regardless of whether the district conveys the road to
this state, a county, or a municipality.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.106. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.107. 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 8348.103; or
(2) a recreational facility as defined by Section 49.462, Water
Code.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.108. LIMITATION ON ANNEXATION. The district may not
annex land without the written consent by resolution or ordinance
of each municipality in whose corporate limits or
extraterritorial jurisdiction the land is located and the written
consent of each water or sewer service provider that holds a
certificate of public convenience and necessity and whose
certificated service area includes any part of the land.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.109. DIVISION OF DISTRICT. (a) The district may be
divided into two or more new districts only if the district:
(1) has no outstanding bonded debt; and
(2) is not imposing ad valorem taxes.
(b) This chapter applies to any new district created by the
division of the district, and a new district has all the powers
and duties of the district.
(c) Any new district created by the division of the district may
not, at the time the new district is created, contain any land
outside the area described by Section 2 of the Act creating this
chapter.
(d) The board, on its own motion or on receipt of a petition
signed by the owner or owners of a majority of the assessed value
of the real property in the district, may adopt an order dividing
the district.
(e) The board may adopt an order dividing the district before or
after the date the board holds an election under Section 8348.003
to confirm the district's creation.
(f) An order dividing the district shall:
(1) name each new district;
(2) include the metes and bounds description of the territory of
each new district;
(3) appoint temporary directors for each new district; and
(4) provide for the division of assets and liabilities between
or among the new districts.
(g) On or before the 30th day after the date of adoption of an
order dividing the district, the district shall file the order
with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and record the
order in the real property records of each county in which the
district is located.
(h) Any new district created by the division of the district
shall hold a confirmation and directors' election as required by
Section 8348.003.
(i) Municipal consent to the creation of the district and to the
inclusion of land in the district granted under Section 8348.004
acts as municipal consent to the creation of any new district
created by the division of the district and to the inclusion of
land in the new district.
(j) Any new district created by the division of the district
must hold an election as required by this chapter to obtain voter
approval before the district may impose a maintenance tax or
issue bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8348.151. 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 8348.153.
(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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.152. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a) If
authorized at an election held under Section 8348.151, 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.153. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 8348.201. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.202. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 8348.203. 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.
1089, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.