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.