Sec. 5007.007. CONVERSION OF AUTHORITY AND TAX SUPPORTED OBLIGATIONS; CERTAIN POWERS AND DUTIES; ELECTIONS; REFUNDING BONDS; MAINTENANCE TAX; ASSESSMENT OF TAXES. (a) Effective and operative January 1, 1958, the authority is hereby converted to a navigation district operating under the provisions of Section 59 of Article XVI, Constitution of Texas, and after that date the authority will operate under Section 59 of Article XVI.

(a-1) The authority is empowered and authorized to exercise, in addition to all powers conferred by this section, all powers conferred upon the authority by the law or laws under which it was organized, and, in addition, shall have all of the powers and jurisdiction conferred upon Districts originally organized under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Constitution of the State of Texas, including Subchapters B, H, and K, Chapter 60, Water Code, and Sections 60.034 through 60.042, 61.075, 61.076, 61.082, 61.112, 61.115 through 61.117, 61.151 through 61.168, 61.172 through 61.174, and 61.176, Water Code, as amended, and Articles 8248, 8249, 8250, 8251, 8252, 8253, 8254, 8255, 8256, 8257, and 8258, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended, as well as Chapter 6, Acts, 1941, Forty-seventh Legislature, Page 8, as amended; Chapter 176, Acts, 1955, Fifty-fourth Legislature, Page 554; Chapter 217, Acts, 1949, Fifty-first Legislature, Page 407; provided, that if there is any conflict or inconsistency between said laws or any of them, and this chapter, then to the extent of conflict or inconsistency, the provisions of this chapter shall govern.

(a-2) If the authority makes a contract under which another entity performs for the authority any work in which the authority may engage under Section 5007.006(a), the authority may require that a minimum of 25 percent of the work be performed by the contractor and, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, may establish financial criteria for the surety companies that provide payment and performance bonds.

(b) If the port commission shall from time to time determine to make further construction or improvements by the issuance of tax bonds or that additional tax bond funds are required with which to maintain the existing improvements, they shall certify to the Commissioners Court of Harris County the necessity for an additional bond issue or issues stating the amount required, the purposes of the same, the maximum rate of interest of said bonds, and the time for which they are to run. A certified copy of an order or resolution adopted by the port commission, setting forth such information, shall constitute sufficient certification in this regard. The Commissioners Court at a regular or special meeting, shall order an election to vote on the proposition of the issuance of bonds and the levy of taxes as hereinafter provided. Said order shall specify the maximum amount of bonds to be issued, their maximum maturity date, and the maximum rate of interest. The ballots for such election shall contain words substantially as follows: "For the issuance of bonds and levy of tax in payment thereof"; "Against the issuance of bonds and levy of tax in payment thereof"; and said ballot shall conform to the requirements of the provisions of the Constitution of Texas and all other Statutes of Texas applicable thereto. Any and all limitations, statutory or otherwise, restricting the amount of bonds that may be issued by the authority are hereby removed.

(c) When any election is held under this chapter, notice thereof shall be given for not less than thirty (30) days prior thereto, stating the time, places of holding the same, the proposition or propositions to be voted upon, and the purposes thereof, and shall contain a substantial copy of the election order. Such notices shall be posted by the County Clerk in five (5) public places in said County, one (1) of which shall be at the Courthouse door, and four (4) of which shall be posted within the limits of the authority. No other notice of election shall be necessary. The authority, being presently a county-wide district, and so long as it remains such, the regular voting or election precincts established by the Commissioners Court for county-wide elections shall be the voting or election precincts for all such bond elections.

(d) The Commissioners Court shall canvass the returns of said election, and if a majority of those voting at the election vote in favor of the issuance of the bonds and the levy of the tax in payment thereof, then the Commissioners Court shall authorize the issuance of such bonds and levy taxes to pay the interest on and principal of such bonds, as hereinafter provided. In canvassing such returns and declaring the result of any such election, a simple resolution or order of said Commissioners Court shall be satisfactory.

(e) Bonds so authorized at an election may be issued in one or more installments, and when the port commission shall have determined the amount of bonds to be issued in a particular series or issue, the port commission shall adopt a resolution or order setting forth the amount of bonds then to be issued, and a certified copy of such resolution or order shall be furnished the Commissioners Court. Thereupon, said Commissioners Court, at a regular or special meeting, shall adopt an order authorizing and directing the issuance of bonds for the authority in the amount so certified.

(f) All tax bonds of the authority shall be issued in the name of the authority, shall be signed by the County Judge and attested by the County Clerk, and shall have the seal of the Commissioners Court impressed thereon; provided, that the order authorizing the issuance of such bonds may provide for the bonds to be signed by the facsimile signatures of said County Judge and County Clerk, either or both, and for the seal on the bonds to be a printed facsimile seal of the Commissioners Court; and provided further that the interest coupons attached to said bonds may also be executed by the facsimile signatures of said officers. The County Treasurer shall register such bonds and shall keep a record thereof, and evidence of such registration may be shown on the bonds by the manual or facsimile signature of said County Treasurer. Such bonds shall be issued in such denominations, shall be payable at such time or times not exceeding forty (40) years from their date or dates, and shall bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed the amount allowed by law, all as may be determined by said Commissioners Court.

(g) The port commission shall sell such bonds for the best price possible and in no event for less than their face value and accrued interest thereon. Such bonds may be sold either prior to, simultaneous with, or after the adoption of the order by the Commissioners Court authorizing the issuance of such bonds; and if such bonds are sold either prior to or simultaneous with the adoption of said order by the Commissioners Court, then such order shall contain a provision confirming the sale of such bonds. All moneys received from the sale of such bonds shall be deposited with the County Treasurer to the credit of the authority, and shall be expended only for the bond purpose and incidental expenses in connection therewith. No additional bond shall be required of the County Treasurer or of any officer or official of the authority for the handling of the bond proceeds.

(h) All such bonds, and the record of proceedings pertaining thereto, shall be submitted to the Attorney General of Texas for his examination as to the validity thereof, and after the Attorney General has approved the same, such bonds shall be registered by the Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas. When such bonds have been approved by the Attorney General, registered by the Comptroller, and delivered to the purchasers, they shall thereafter be incontestable for any cause except for forgery or fraud.

(i) When bonds have been issued, the Commissioners Court shall levy and cause to be assessed and collected taxes annually sufficient to pay the interest on such bonds, to provide a sinking fund to redeem said bonds as they mature, and to pay the cost of collection of such taxes.

(j) The Commissioners Court shall have the power to issue bonds to refund outstanding bonds of the authority and accrued interest thereon, and the provisions of this Section relating to the issuance of voted bonds shall apply to the issuance of refunding bonds, except that no election therefor shall be necessary. Refunding bonds shall bear interest at the same or lower rate than the bonds to be refunded unless it is shown mathematically that a saving will result in the total amount of interest to be paid. Such bonds shall be approved by the Attorney General as in the case of original bonds, and shall be registered by the Comptroller upon surrender and cancellation of the bonds to be refunded, but in lieu thereof, the order authorizing their issuance may provide that they shall be sold and the proceeds thereof deposited in the place or places where the bonds to be refunded are payable, in which case the refunding bonds may be issued in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of the bonds to be refunded and the interest on such bonds to their option or maturity date, and the Comptroller shall register them without the surrender and cancellation of the bonds to be refunded. All refunding bonds, after they have been approved by the Attorney General and registered by the Comptroller, shall be incontestable for any cause except for forgery or fraud.

(k) The Commissioners Court may, upon the request of the port commission, invest the sinking fund created for the benefit of any bonds issued hereunder, in such county, municipal, district, or other bonds required by law to be approved by the Attorney General of Texas.

(l) The Commissioners Court shall be authorized to levy and cause to be assessed and collected for the maintenance, operation and upkeep of the authority and the facilities, properties, and improvements of the authority, whether heretofore or hereafter constructed or acquired and whether constructed or acquired under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise, an annual tax not to exceed ten cents (10¢) on each One Hundred Dollars ($100) valuation of taxable property within the authority; provided that the levying of such tax shall be first submitted to the qualified taxpaying voters of the authority called and held as herein provided for bond elections and the proposition shall be adopted by a majority vote of those voting at the election.

(m) The Commissioners Court shall at the time of levy of taxes for County purposes each year levy and cause to be assessed and collected said maintenance tax within such voted limit of ten cents (10¢) as has been determined by the port commission.

(n) The port commission shall provide all necessary additional books for the use of the tax assessor-collector and the Clerk of the Commissioners Court of Harris County, Texas. The tax assessor-collector of Harris County shall be charged with the assessment of all property for taxation within the authority and when ordered to do so by the Commissioners Court of Harris County shall assess all property within the authority and list the same for taxation in the books or rolls furnished the tax assessor-collector for said purposes, and return said books or rolls at the same time when the tax assessor-collector returns the other books or rolls of the State and County Taxes for correction and approval to the Commissioners Court of said County, and if said Court shall find said books or rolls correct they shall approve the same, and in all matters pertaining to the assessment of property for taxation in the authority, the tax assessor-collector and appraisal review board of said County shall be authorized to act and shall be governed by the laws of Texas for assessing and equalizing property for State and County Taxes, except as herein provided. All taxes authorized to be levied by this chapter shall be a lien upon the property upon which said taxes are assessed, and said taxes may be paid and shall mature and be paid at the time provided by the laws of this State for the payment of State and County Taxes; and all the penalties provided by the laws of this State for the nonpayment of State and County Taxes shall apply to all taxes authorized to be levied by this chapter. The tax assessor-collector of Harris County shall be charged with the assessment rolls of the authority, and is required to make collection of all taxes levied and assessed against the property in said County and promptly pay over the same to the Treasurer of the authority. The tax assessor-collector shall receive compensation for services and such compensation shall be paid as provided by law. The bond of the tax assessor-collector shall stand as security for the proper performance of the duties of the tax assessor-collector of the authority; or, if in the judgment of the port commission it be necessary, an additional bond payable to the authority may be required, and in all matters pertaining to the collection of taxes levied under the provisions of this chapter, the tax assessor-collector shall be authorized to act and shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas for the collection of State and County Taxes, except as herein provided; and suits may be brought for the collection of said taxes and the enforcement of the tax liens created by this chapter. It shall be the duty of the tax assessor-collector to make a certified list of all delinquent property upon which the navigation tax has not been paid, and return the same to the County Commissioners Court, which shall proceed to have the same collected by the sale of such delinquent property in the same manner, both by suit and otherwise, as now or may be provided for the sale of property for the collection of State and County Taxes; and, at the sale of any property for any delinquent tax, the port commission may become the purchasers of the same for the benefit of the authority. Should the tax assessor-collector fail or refuse to comply with the order of said Commissioners Court requiring the tax assessor-collector to assess and list for taxation all the property in the authority, or fail or refuse to give such additional bond or security as herein provided, the tax assessor-collector shall be suspended from further discharge of the tax assessor-collector's duties by the Commissioners Court of said County, and the tax assessor-collector shall be removed from office in the mode prescribed by law for the removal of county officers.

(o) The County Treasurer of Harris County shall be treasurer of the authority, and shall open an account of all moneys received by the treasurer belonging to the authority and all amounts paid out by the treasurer. The treasurer shall deposit the funds of the authority in such depository or depositories as may be designated by the port commission in the manner provided by law. Should the port commission fail or refuse to select a depository such depository shall be selected in like manner by the Commissioners Court. The treasurer shall pay out no money except upon the conditions provided for in this chapter and under other law and shall carefully preserve on file all orders for the payment of money; and, as often as required by the Commissioners Court, shall render a correct account to them of all matters pertaining to the financial condition of the authority. The treasurer shall execute a good and sufficient bond, payable to the authority in an amount to be fixed by the port commission, such bond to be conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of the treasurer of the authority and to be approved by the port commission; provided whenever any bonds are issued by the authority, before receiving the proceeds of sale thereof the treasurer shall execute additional good and sufficient bond payable to the port commission in an amount to be fixed by the port commission, which bond shall likewise be conditioned and approved as aforesaid, but such additional bond shall not be required after such Treasurer shall have properly disbursed the proceeds of such bond issue; and the treasurer shall be allowed such compensation for services performed as treasurer of the authority as may be determined by the port commission.

(p) The authority shall acquire, purchase, lease, maintain, repair and operate facilities and equipment for preventing, detecting, controlling, responding to, and fighting fires, explosions, and hazardous material incidents on or adjacent to the waterways, channels and turning basins within its jurisdiction, including the Houston Ship Channel, and for the protection of life and property from damage by fire, explosion, and hazardous material incidents. The authority shall promulgate and enforce ordinances, rules and regulations for the promotion of the safety of life and property on or adjacent to the waterways, channels and turning basins within its jurisdiction, including the Houston Ship Channel, from damages by fire, explosion, and hazardous material incidents in the manner provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 60, Water Code. The powers and functions herein authorized may be exercised both within and without the corporate limits of any city, town or village situated within the boundaries of the authority. This chapter shall be cumulative of all other laws on the subject but in the event of conflict between this chapter and any law of this state or any charter provision or ordinance of any such city, town or village relating to the subject matter of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall control.

(q) The authority is authorized to acquire, purchase, construct, enlarge, extend, repair, maintain, operate, or develop traffic control facilities and everything appurtenant thereto, together with all other facilities or aids incident to or useful in the operation or development of the ports and waterways within the authority's jurisdiction, including the Houston Ship Channel, or in aid of navigation and commerce thereon.

Transferred, redesignated and amended from Local Water Laws, Section 2, Chapter 117, 55R by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 139 (H.B. 1642), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.

Amended by:

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 758 (S.B. 1864), Sec. 5, eff. June 12, 2017.