Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_____________________ L OCAL
OCAL GOVERNMENT
77 th Texas Legislature
Assessment of Impact Fees to Finance Capital Improvements – S.B. 243
by Senator Harris
House Sponsor: Representatives Brimer
Under current law, a political subdivision can charge an “impact fee” against a new development in order to
generate revenue to fund or recover the cost of capital improvements related to and used for the new
development. In addition, the political subdivision must use professionals to prepare a capital
improvements plan and calculate such fees.
Requires a capital improvements plan to include a plan for awarding one of the following credits to the new
development:
• a portion of the ad valorem tax and utility service revenues that will be generated by the new
development; or
• 50 percent of the total projected cost of the capital improvements.
Solid Waste Disposal Fees - S.B. 352
by Senator Truan
House Sponsors: Representatives Gray and Oliveira
Texas law provides counties the authority to offer and require solid waste services, and permits them to
collect fees for the service. However, it does not provide an effective enforcement mechanism to compel
payment.
Permits a county to contract with a private or public entity, including a public utility, to collect solid waste
fees.
Authorizes a county, or the public or private entity that has contracted with the county, to suspend service
when a person is delinquent in payment of solid waste disposal service fees, until the delinquent claim is
fully paid.
Authorizes a public or private utility that bills and collects solid waste disposal service fees to suspend
service of that utility, in addition to the suspension of the disposal service, when a person is delinquent in
payment of fees, until the delinquent claim is fully paid.
Adoption of International Residential Code - S.B. 365
by Senator Armbrister
House Sponsor: Representative Ritter
Adopts the International Residential Code (IRC) for municipal residential buildings in Texas, and adopts the
National Electrical Code (NEC) for electrical construction in residential buildings, as of January 1, 2002.
The IRC applies to all construction, alteration, and repair of residential buildings, while the NEC applies to
all residential electrical construction applications.
Creates procedures for a municipality to adopt local amendments and to enforce these codes.
Senate Research Center 199