TITLE: Relating to public access to boundary, financial, and tax rate information of certain special purpose districts.

SUMMARY: Relating to public access to boundary, financial, and tax rate information of certain special purpose districts.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to public access to boundary, financial, and tax rate information of certain special purpose districts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 403.0241 to read as follows: Sec. 403.0241. SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT PUBLIC INFORMATION WAREHOUSE. (a) In this section, (1) "special purpose district" means a political subdivision of this state with boundaries that are not statewide, other than a municipality, county, junior college district, or independent school district; and (2) "tax year" has the meaning assigned by Section 1.04, Tax Code. (b) The comptroller shall create and make accessible on the Internet a database, to be known as the Special Purpose District Public Information Warehouse, that contains information regarding all active special purpose districts of this state that are authorized by the state by a general or special law to impose an ad valorem or sales and use tax or to issue bonds, notes, or other obligations. (c) The warehouse database must include with respect to each special purpose district described): (1) the name of the special purpose district; (2) the rate of any sales and use tax the special purpose district imposes; (3) the table of ad valorem tax rates for the most recent tax year described by Section 26.16, Tax Code, in the form required by that section; (4) the total amount of the special purpose district's debt, including principal and interest, and the year in which that debt would be paid in accordance with the current applicable terms; (5) the special purpose district's Internet website address or, if the special purpose district does not operate an Internet website, contact information to enable a member of the public to obtain information from the special purpose district; and (6) the Internet website address for the appraisal district in each county in which the special purpose district has territory. (d) The warehouse database may include with respect to each special purpose district the following information, or a link to the information, that is provided through an Internet website maintained by the special purpose district: (1) information describing the special purpose district's boundaries; (2) the special purpose district's budget for its current fiscal year and the three preceding fiscal years; (3) each current check registry published by the special purpose district's governing body on the special purpose district's Internet website, if any; (4) the special purpose district's financial audit or annual financial report for the three preceding fiscal years; and (5) any other current financial audit or annual financial report published by the special purpose district's governing body. (e) The comptroller may consult with the appropriate officer of, or other person representing, each special purpose district to obtain the information necessary to operate and update the warehouse database. (f) The governing body of a special purpose district that publishes on the special purpose district's Internet website the special purpose district's check registry shall provide to the comptroller the Internet address of the Internet page on which that registry may be accessed for purposes of Subsection (d)(3). (g) To the extent information required in the warehouse database is otherwise collected or maintained by a state agency or special purpose district, the comptroller may request and the state agency or special purpose district shall provide that information and updates to the information as necessary for inclusion in the warehouse database. (h) The comptroller shall update information in the warehouse database regarding the rates of taxes imposed by each special purpose district at least annually. (i) To the extent possible, the comptroller shall present information in the warehouse database in a manner that is searchable and intuitive to users. The comptroller may enhance and organize the presentation of the information through the use of graphical representations as the comptroller considers appropriate. (j) The comptroller may not charge a fee to the public to access the warehouse database. (k) The comptroller may establish procedures and adopt rules to implement this section. SECTION 2. Chapter 203, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Dto read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. RECORDS AND INFORMATION PROVIDED TO COMPTROLLER Sec. 203.061. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) In this subchapter, "special purpose district" means a political subdivision of this state with boundaries that are not statewide, other than a municipality, county, junior college district, or independent school district. (b) This subchapter applies only to special purpose districts. Sec. 203.062. PROVISION OF CERTAIN RECORDS AND OTHER INFORMATION TO COMPTROLLER. A special purpose district shall transmit records and other information specified by this subchapter to the comptroller annually for purposes of providing the comptroller with information to operate and update the Special Purpose District Public Information Warehouse under Section 403.0241, Government Code. The special purpose district shall transmit the records and other information in a form and in the manner prescribed by the comptroller. Sec. 203.063. BOUNDARIES AND DISSOLUTION RECORDS. (a) A special purpose district shall transmit to the comptroller as provided by Section 203.062 each information form, map, and plat, and any amendment to an information form, map, or plat, and each statement regarding the annexation or consolidation of the special purpose district. (a-1) A special purpose district that is active on September 1, 2015, shall transmit the information required by Subsection (a) to the comptroller not later than September 1, 2016. This subsection expires January 1, 2017. (b) A special purpose district created on or after September 1, 2015, shall transmit the information required by Subsection (a) to the comptroller on or before the later of: (1) September 1, 2016; or (2) six months after the special purpose district's creation date. (c) If after a special purpose district transmits the information required by Subsection (a) to the comptroller the special purpose district's boundaries change or the special purpose district dissolves, the special purpose district shall transmit to the comptroller as provided by Section 203.062 and as applicable each information form, map, and plat, and any amendment to an information form, map, or plat, and each statement regarding the dissolution, annexation, or consolidation of the special purpose district not later than six months after the date the change in boundaries or dissolution occurs. Sec. 203.064. FINANCIAL INFORMATION. A special purpose district shall transmit to the comptroller as provided by Section 203.062 the following financial information: (1) the special purpose district's most recently adopted annual budget; (2) the special purpose district's budget for the three preceding fiscal years, if not already transmitted to the comptroller; (3) the special purpose district's most recent annual financial report; and (4) the special purpose district's annual financial report for the three preceding fiscal years, if not already transmitted to the comptroller. Sec. 203.065. INTERNET WEBSITE. A special purpose district shall transmit to the comptroller as provided by Section 203.062 the address of the Internet website maintained by the special purpose district, if any. SECTION 3. The comptroller of public accounts shall create and post on the Internet the Special Purpose District Public Information Warehouse required by Section 403.0241, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2017. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.