HBA-SEP H.B. 2681 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2681 By: Allen Ways & Means 67/3/2001 Enrolled 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, prior to the 77th Legislature, 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 June 13, 2001.