2023 Texas Statutes › Special District Local Laws Code › Title 4 - Development and Improvement › Subtitle B - Defense Base Development › Chapter 3503 - Texamericas Center › Subchapter C. Powers and Duties › Section 3503.101. General Powers and Duties

Sec. 3503.101.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.  (a)  This chapter provides sufficient authority to issue bonds, execute contracts, and perform any other act or procedure authorized in this chapter for the authority and all other persons of this state, including another governmental entity of this state and including an action regarding another governmental entity and the United States, without reference to other law or a restriction or limitation contained in other law, except as provided by this chapter.
(b)  The authority may exercise any power or duty necessary or appropriate to carry out a project described by Section 3503.003(a)(3) and the purposes of this chapter, including the power to:
(1)  sue and be sued, and plead and be impleaded, in its own name;
(2)  adopt an official seal;
(3)  adopt, enforce, and amend rules for the conduct of its affairs;
(4)  acquire, hold, own, pledge, and dispose of its revenue, income, receipts, and money from any source;
(5)  select its depository;
(6)  acquire, own, rent, lease, accept, hold, or dispose of any property, or any interest in property, including rights or easements, in performing its duties and exercising its powers under this chapter, by purchase, exchange, gift, assignment, sale, lease, or other method;
(7)  hold, manage, operate, or improve the property;
(8)  sell, assign, lease, encumber, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of property, or any interest in property, and relinquish a property right, title, claim, lien, interest, easement, or demand, however acquired;
(9)  perform an activity authorized by Subdivision (8) by public or private sale, with or without public bidding, notwithstanding any other law;
(10)  lease or rent any land and building, structure, or facility from or to any person to carry out a chapter purpose;
(11)  request and accept an appropriation, grant, allocation, subsidy, guarantee, aid, service, labor, material, or gift, from the federal government, the state, a public agency or political subdivision, or any other source;
(12)  operate and maintain an office and appoint and determine the duties, tenure, qualifications, and compensation of officers, employees, agents, professional advisors and counselors, including financial consultants, accountants, attorneys, architects, engineers, appraisers, and financing experts, as considered necessary or advisable by the board;
(13)  borrow money and issue bonds, payable solely from all or a portion of any authority revenue, by resolution or order of the board and without the necessity of an election;
(14)  set and collect rents, rates, fees, and charges regarding the property and any services provided by the authority;
(15)  exercise the powers Chapters 373 and 380, Local Government Code, grant to a municipality for the development of housing and expansion of economic development and commercial activity;
(16)  exercise the powers Chapter 49, Water Code, grants to a general-law district;
(17)  exercise the powers Chapter 54, Water Code, grants to a municipal utility district;
(18)  exercise the powers Chapter 552, Transportation Code, grants to a road utility district;
(19)  exercise the powers Subchapter C, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, grants to a municipality or county;
(20)  exercise the powers Chapter 552, Local Government Code, grants to a municipality for the provision of municipal utilities;
(21)  contract and be contracted with, in the authority's own name, another person in the performance of the authority's powers or duties to carry out a project described by Section 3503.003(a)(3), or to accomplish the purposes of this chapter for a period of years, on the terms, and by competitive bidding or by negotiated contract, all as the board considers appropriate, desirable, and in the best interests of the authority and the accomplishment of chapter purposes;
(22)  acquire, hold, own, sell, assign, lease, encumber, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any real, personal, or mixed property located outside the perimeter of the property described by Section 3503.004 if the other property enhances or facilitates the development, redevelopment, maintenance, or expansion of new and existing businesses, industry, or commercial activity on the property;
(23)  exercise the powers Chapter 22, Transportation Code, grants to a municipality or county;
(24)  exercise the powers Chapter 379B, Local Government Code, grants to a defense base development authority;
(25)  exercise the powers of a municipality under Chapters 211 and 212, Local Government Code, in the territory of the authority, including an area of the authority that is in the boundaries of a municipality's limited purpose jurisdiction and extraterritorial jurisdiction.  On annexation of an area of the authority for full purposes by a municipality, the authority's power to regulate the area under Chapters 211 and 212 expires.  The authority regains the power in an area if the municipality disannexes the area;
(26)  fund and carry out a project the board determines will promote or support an active military base located in the same county as the authority to prevent closure or realignment of the base and attract new military missions to the base, including a project to create jobs, retain jobs, grant or loan money to a federal entity, make improvements to infrastructure, buildings, or land, or acquire land; and
(27)  for a fee, provide services, provide investment capital, or operate facilities as an independent contractor inside or outside the boundaries of the authority and this state to promote, enhance, develop, or assist a person in the:
(A)  creation and operation of a new business, industry, commercial activity, or manufacturing operation:
(i)  inside the boundaries of the authority; or
(ii)  on a military base located in the same county as the authority; or
(B)  expansion or relocation of an existing business, industry, commercial activity, or manufacturing operation:
(i)  inside the boundaries of the authority; or
(ii)  on a military base located in the same county as the authority.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 729 (H.B. 2019), Sec. 1.02, eff. April 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 885 (H.B. 2278), Sec. 3.77(22), eff. April 1, 2009.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 987 (H.B. 3802), Sec. 2, eff. June 19, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1245 (S.B. 1879), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2013.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 33 (S.B. 479), Sec. 1, eff. May 15, 2021.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 112 (S.B. 1187), Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 2023.