Sec. 8888.054. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY. (a) The board of directors of a district organized under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, all or part of which is not included in the authority, by petition may request the district's territory to be included in the authority's territory. The petition must:

(1) be filed with the authority; and

(2) include an accurate legal description of the boundaries of the territory to be included.

(b) If the authority has bonds, notes, or other obligations outstanding, the board shall require the petitioning district to assume the district's share of the outstanding bonds, notes, or other obligations.

(c) Before the 61st day after the date the authority receives the petition, the board shall hold a hearing to consider the petition. The board may grant the petition and order the territory described in the petition to be included in the authority's territory if:

(1) it is feasible, practicable, and to the advantage of the authority; and

(2) the authority's system and other improvements of the authority are sufficient or will be sufficient to supply the added territory without injuring the territory already included in the authority.

(d) If the board grants the petition, the board shall file for recording in the office of the county clerk of Harris County:

(1) a copy of the order; and

(2) a description of the authority's boundaries as they exist after the inclusion of the territory.

(e) The order including the territory is effective immediately after the order and description are recorded.

(f) Except as provided by Subsection (g), a district that petitions to be included in the authority's territory is subject to the fees and reimbursements that are in effect at the time of the district's petition and are applicable to such a petitioner.

(g) The authority may not require a district that petitioned before January 1, 2002, to be included in the authority's territory to pay a fee to the authority for admission or reimbursement for activities the authority has undertaken since the authority's creation in the furtherance of the authority's duties and functions.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 869 (H.B. 2803), Sec. 1.04, eff. April 1, 2019.