Title SD, Special District Local Laws Code

Sec. 5007.010. NAME AND TITLE CHANGES. (a) Effective August 30, 1971, the name of the Harris County Houston Ship Channel Navigation District of Harris County, Texas, is changed to the Port of Houston Authority of Harris County, Texas. (b) Effective August 30, 1971, the name of th…

Sec. 5007.201. CONFLICT OF LAWS. To the extent of a conflict between this subchapter and any other law, including Subchapter A, this subchapter prevails. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 139 (H.B. 1642), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 5007.202. PROVISIONS NOT APPLICABLE TO AUTHORITY. Chapter 90, Acts of the 49th Legislature, Regular Session, 1945, and Chapter 211, Acts of the 54th Legislature, Regular Session, 1955, do not apply to the authority. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 139 (H.B. 1642), S…

Sec. 5007.204. GOVERNING BODY; APPOINTMENT; TERMS; VACANCY. (a) The authority is governed by a port commission of seven port commissioners appointed as follows: (1) two port commissioners appointed by a majority of the city council of the City of Houston; (2) two port commissione…

Sec. 5007.205. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR; TERM. (a) The City of Houston mayor and city council and the Harris County Commissioners Court shall jointly appoint the chair of the port commission in January of odd-numbered years. The term of the chair expires on February 1 of each odd-num…

Sec. 5007.206. NAVIGATION BOARD. The navigation board of the authority is composed of the county judge and county commissioners of Harris County, the mayor and city council members of the City of Houston, and the members of the Harris County Mayors' and Councils' Association. Add…

Sec. 5007.2065. SERVICE ON FREIGHT RAIL DISTRICT BOARD. The chair of the port commission may designate an officer or employee of the authority to serve on behalf of the chair as a director of a freight rail district created under Section 171.052, Transportation Code. Added by Act…

Sec. 5007.207. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. (a) In this section, "Texas trade association" means a cooperative and voluntarily joined statewide association of business or professional competitors in this state designed to assist its members and its industry or profession in dealing with…

Sec. 5007.208. FILING OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT BY PORT COMMISSIONERS. (a) A port commissioner shall file the financial statement required of state officers under Subchapter B, Chapter 572, Government Code, with: (1) the authority; and (2) the Texas Ethics Commission. (b) Subchapter…

Sec. 5007.209. PORT COMMISSIONER TRAINING. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a port commissioner may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a port commissioner in attendance at a meeting of the port commission until the person completes a training progr…

Sec. 5007.210. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE. (a) It is a ground for removal from the port commission that a port commissioner: (1) does not have at the time of taking office the qualifications required by Section 5007.204; (2) does not maintain during service on the port commission the qu…

Sec. 5007.211. PORT COMMISSION POLICIES. (a) The port commission shall adopt detailed policies that document its governance practices and make those policies available on the authority's website. (b) The port commission shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate t…

Sec. 5007.212. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. (a) The port commission shall appoint an executive director of the authority. The port commission shall prescribe the duties and compensation of the executive director. The port commission may delegate to the executive director full authority to…

Sec. 5007.213. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT; ETHICS POLICY. (a) A port commissioner or an authority employee should not: (1) accept or solicit any gift, favor, or service that might reasonably tend to influence the port commissioner or employee in the discharge of official duties or that…

Sec. 5007.214. ETHICS AFFIRMATION AND HOTLINE. (a) A port commissioner or an authority employee shall annually affirm the port commissioner's or employee's adherence to the ethics policy adopted under Section 5007.213. (b) The port commission shall establish and operate a telepho…

Sec. 5007.215. COMPLAINTS. (a) The authority shall maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the authority. The authority shall maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the results of t…

Sec. 5007.216. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT POLICY. The port commission shall develop and implement a policy that provides a structure for public involvement. The policy must include: (1) a clear and detailed description of how the authority will seek to actively engage stakeholders; (2) s…

Sec. 5007.217. WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY. The port commission shall adopt a whistleblower policy consistent with Chapter 554, Government Code. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 139 (H.B. 1642), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 5007.218. EXPENSE POLICY. The port commission shall adopt an expense policy that includes: (1) spending guidelines for meals, lodging, and entertainment, including a process for handling and documenting exceptions to the guidelines if business needs require an exception; (2)…

Sec. 5007.219. PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT FUND. (a) In this section, "promotion and development fund" means a fund created and managed under Subchapter H, Chapter 60, Water Code. (b) The port commission shall adopt clear, complete policy and procedures to govern the use of the pro…

Sec. 5007.220. PLANNING DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of Sections 5007.221, 5007.222, 5007.224, and 5007.225: (1) "Long-range plan" means the plan developed under Section 5007.221. (2) "Mid-range plan" means the plan developed under Section 5007.222. (3) "One-year capital plan" m…

Sec. 5007.221. LONG-RANGE PLANNING. (a) Appropriate staff shall develop a long-range plan containing: (1) a mission and values statement; (2) an assessment of the authority's state as of the date of the plan; (3) an assessment of the projected operating environment over the cours…

Sec. 5007.222. MID-RANGE PLANNING. (a) Appropriate staff shall develop a mid-range plan consistent with the long-range plan. The mid-range plan must include: (1) a five-year financial forecast addressing the financial needs and financing options of the authority for the five-year…

Sec. 5007.223. BUDGET. The port commission shall annually adopt a budget for the authority in an open meeting. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 139 (H.B. 1642), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 5007.224. ONE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN. (a) Appropriate staff shall develop a one-year capital plan, including associated financing, that is integrated with the budget of the authority. (b) The port commission shall adopt the one-year capital plan in an open meeting. (c) The port c…

Sec. 5007.225. PUBLIC ACCESS TO BUDGET AND PLANNING INFORMATION. (a) The port commission shall post on the authority's website and otherwise make available to the public the authority's most recently adopted budget and any plan adopted by the port commission at an open meeting, i…

Sec. 5007.226. INTERNAL AUDIT. (a) The port commission shall establish an internal audit procedure consistent with the purposes, duties, and standards for state agency internal audit procedures under Chapter 2102, Government Code. (b) The port commission shall create an internal …

Sec. 5007.227. HARRIS COUNTY AUDITOR. (a) The county auditor of Harris County may conduct a financial audit of the authority as part of an annual, county-wide risk assessment and audit plan. An audit performed under this subsection must be conducted in accordance with generally a…

Sec. 5007.228. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS. (a) In this section, "gift" means a gift, grant, donation, or bequest of money or property accepted under Section 60.124, Water Code, that has a value of $500 or more. (b) The authority may accept a gift only if, not later than the 90th day aft…

Sec. 5008.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Board" means the district's board of navigation and canal commissioners. (2) "Commissioner" means a board member. (3) "District" means the Willacy County Navigation District. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 161…

Sec. 5008.0102. FINDINGS OF PURPOSE. The creation of the district is essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 1615), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. SUBCHAPTER B. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION…

Sec. 5008.0201. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS; TERM. (a) The board consists of five elected commissioners. (b) Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 1615), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. Text of section effective on April 01, 2…

Sec. 5008.0202. ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS. (a) The district is divided into four numbered single-member districts for electing commissioners. (b) The board may revise the single-member districts as necessary or appropriate. (c) One commissioner is elected from each single-member …

Sec. 5008.0203. PRESIDING OFFICER. The commissioner elected from the district at large serves as the board's presiding officer. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 1615), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. Text of section effective on April 01, 2027

Sec. 5008.0204. GENERAL MANAGER OR PORT DIRECTOR. (a) The board may: (1) employ a general manager or port director; and (2) give the manager or director full administrative authority to manage and operate the district's affairs, subject only to the board's supervision. (b) The bo…

Sec. 5008.0301. AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE AND LEASE LAND; EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) The district may own land adjacent or accessible to the navigable water in the district, whether acquired by gift, purchase, or exercise of the power of eminent domain. (b) The district may: (1) lease all or…

Sec. 5008.0302. AUTHORITY TO SELL LAND. The district may sell any part of land the district owns to any government or governmental agency, including this state or the United States, for any amount of money the board considers prudent and advisable if the board considers the sale …

Sec. 5008.0303. AUTHORITY TO LEASE OR GRANT EASEMENTS FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES. The district may, for causeway, road, or public utility purposes, lease, or grant an easement over or along, any real property the district owns or holds in fee simple or by patent, easement, or otherwise…

Sec. 5008.0304. CONVEYANCE AND ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY. (a) This section applies only to property, including land or an interest in land, that: (1) the district owns; (2) the United States desires to enable a United States department or establishment to carry out the prov…

Sec. 5008.0305. ENTRY ON PROPERTY. District commissioners, engineers, and employees may enter any land in the district to attend to any district business, including to examine the land and to make plans, surveys, maps, and profiles for improvements contemplated by the district. A…

Sec. 5008.0306. POWERS REGARDING PUBLIC AIRPORTS. (a) The district, in carrying out the district's powers and functions under the constitution and statutes of this state, may: (1) plan, acquire, own, control, protect, develop, maintain, and operate, or arrange by lease or contrac…

Sec. 5008.0307. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY SERVICES. The board may: (1) employ and set the compensation of security personnel to protect the district's property; or (2) pay all or a part of the compensation of a deputy sheriff of Willacy County or a deputy constable of any prec…

Sec. 5008.0401. AD VALOREM TAX FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. (a) The board may impose an ad valorem tax at a rate not to exceed 20 cents on each $100 valuation of taxable property in the district for the maintenance and operation of the district and the district's properties. (…

Sec. 5008.0501. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies only to bonds payable from both ad valorem taxes and district revenue. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 1615), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. Text of section effective on April 01, 2027

Sec. 5008.0502. NOTICE OF ELECTION. (a) Instead of any other notice required by law, notice of an election to issue bonds must be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the district and must state: (1) the date of the election; (2…

Sec. 5008.0503. FORM OF BONDS. Bonds authorized at an election must be: (1) issued by board order; and (2) signed by the board's presiding officer and secretary. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 203 (H.B. 1615), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2027. Text of section effective on …