Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 1223	Senate Author:  Eltife
Effective:  6-19-09	House Sponsor:  Frost

            Senate Bill 1223 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to add a subtitle governing municipal water districts, and to create the Riverbend Water Resources District as a conservation and reclamation district. The district is not required to be confirmed at an election.  The district is composed of the Red River Redevelopment Authority and the Texas cities of Annona, Avery, DeKalb, Hooks, Maud, New Boston, Texarkana, and Wake Village, and is granted the district powers applicable to all general and special law districts under the Water Code.  The bill authorizes the board to add a member to the district and allows a member to withdraw from the district without affecting the validity of the district or its powers and duties.  The district also has all the rights, powers, and privileges necessary or useful to enable it to acquire, provide, supply, deliver, and sell water inside or outside its boundaries to any person for any beneficial purpose.   The bill authorizes the district to issue bonds but prohibits the district from imposing an assessment on property or a property tax or creating a debt payable from either source.  If the district issues bonds payable wholly from revenue, it is required to set and revise the rates, fees, and charges assessed for water sold, waste collection and treatment services provided, and garbage collection services provided by the district so that the revenue collected is sufficient to pay certain district expenses and maintain certain funds.