HBA-CBW H.B. 3215 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3215 By: George Economic Development 4/22/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is concern that the largest national conventions which generate the most hotel occupancy tax revenue for the local and state economy are not coming to Texas because no city has a 1,000 plus room hotel immediately adjacent to a nationally competitive convention center. Having a large hotel close to a convention center may attract major conventions to Texas. House Bill 3215 authorizes municipalities with a population of more than one million to use revenue from municipal hotel occupancy taxes to finance a hotel located within 1,000 feet of a convention center. 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 3215 amends the Tax Code to authorize a civic center authority created by a municipality with a population of more than one million (authority) and that acts on behalf of the municipality to pledge the revenue derived from imposed municipal hotel occupancy taxes from a hotel owned by or located on land owned by the authority and located within 1,000 feet of a convention center owned by that municipality for the payment of bonds issued for the construction of the hotel. The bill amends the Government Code to authorize an authority to establish, acquire, lease as lessee or lessor, construct, improve, enlarge, equip, repair, operate, or maintain a hotel, and any facilities ancillary to the hotel that are owned by or located on land owned by the authority, and that is located within 1,000 feet of a convention center facility owned by municipality. The bill authorizes an authority to issue bonds or incur other obligations to acquire, lease, construct, or equip a facility. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.