BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4585

By: Goodwin

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Established as a water control and improvement district (WCID) in 1959, the Travis County Water Control and Improvement District No. 17 provides water and wastewater service to nearly 50,000 individuals in western Travis County. As a WCID, the district is required to hold elections in May of even-numbered years. The district contracts with Travis County to conduct the elections and shares the costs of the election with all entities holding the election on that date. However, several years ago Travis County and the City of Austin moved their commissioners court and city council elections to November of even-numbered years. This change has drastically increased the cost share for those entities still holding May elections. H.B. 4585 seeks to address this issue by requiring the district to hold the election for its directors in November of each even-numbered year.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4585 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to establish that the Travis County Water Control and Improvement District No. 17 is governed by a board of five directors, an appropriate number of whom are elected at an election held by the district on the uniform election date in November of each even-numbered year. The directors serve staggered four-year terms, with two or three directors' terms expiring at the first meeting of the board after the November election and after the board has canvassed the votes and the newly elected directors have qualified for office and taken the constitutional oath. The bill provides for the transition to the November election date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.