HBA-MPM H.B. 782 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 782
By: Tillery
Urban Affairs
6/14/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

State law permits an industrial development corporation (IDC) created by a
municipality under the Development Corporation Act of 1979 to issue bonds
to finance the cost of promoting economic development in the state.  Prior
to the 77th Legislature, state law also permitted a home-rule municipality
of more than 100,000 to grant public money to certain tax-exempt
organizations for certain economic development purposes, but municipalities
in general were not authorized to grant any public money to an IDC.  Thus,
cities with a population of less than 100,000 were not able to use tax
revenues to help an IDC retire bonds issued by the IDC to fund economic
development projects.  House Bill 782 authorizes any home-rule municipality
to grant public money to an IDC for certain economic development purposes.
The public money granted by the municipality is derived from any source
lawfully available to the municipality under its charter or other law,
other than from the proceeds of bonds or other obligations of the
municipality payable from ad valorem taxes. 

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 782 amends the Local Government Code and the Development
Corporation Act of 1979 to authorize a home-rule municipality, under a
contract with an industrial development corporation (IDC) created by the
municipality under the Development Corporation Act of 1979, to grant public
money to the IDC.  The IDC is required to use the grant money to finance
projects or to repay bonds issued by the IDC for the development and
diversification of the state economy, the elimination of unemployment or
underemployment in the state, and the development and expansion of state
commerce.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.