HBA-CMT H.B. 995 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 995 By: Keel State, Federal & International Relations 7/17/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law authorizes local option elections in any county for the creation of public library districts funded by a local sales tax of up to one-half of one percent. Prior to the 77th Legislature, the general powers of a library district did not include the improvement of land or the ability to pledge taxes as collateral for debt. House Bill 995 provides that the general powers of a library district include the improvement of land and the ability to pledge taxes as collateral for debt to further the purposes for which the district was created. 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 995 amends the Local Government Code to add the authority to purchase, acquire, own, maintain, or improve land to the powers of a library district. The bill authorizes the pledging of sales and use taxes as collateral for borrowing money to further a library district's purposes. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.