|
Senate Bill 2452 |
Senate Author: Lucio et al. |
|
Effective: See below |
House Sponsor: González, Mary |
Senate Bill 2452 amends the Water Code to revise provisions relating to assistance to economically distressed areas for water supply and sewer service projects. Among other provisions, the bill replaces the authorization for the economically distressed areas account to be used by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to provide financial assistance to political subdivisions for the construction, acquisition, or improvement of water supply and sewer services with a requirement for the TWDB to use the account to provide such financial assistance. The bill authorizes the TWDB to maximize the effectiveness of the additional general obligation bonds proposed by Senate Joint Resolution 79 by using the additional bonds in conjunction with other sources of financial assistance to provide financial assistance to political subdivisions for the construction, acquisition, or improvement of water supply and sewer services and authorizes the TWDB to use the bonds to promote and support public-private partnerships that the TWDB determines are financially viable, will diversify the methods of financing available for water supply and sewer services, and will reduce reliance on the issuance of bonds supported with general revenue. The bill provides for the prioritization of projects by the TWDB and for the consideration in the application approval process of an applicant's ability to repay financial assistance. The bill requires the TWDB to annually post on its website a report detailing each project for which the TWDB has provided financial assistance. Implementation of a provision of this bill by the TWDB is mandatory only if a specific appropriation is made for that purpose. The bill takes effect on the date on which the constitutional amendment proposed by Senate Joint Resolution 79 takes effect, if approved by the voters.