1-1 By: Cuellar of Webb (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2874
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 1993;
1-3 May 19, 1993, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
1-4 Resources; May 25, 1993, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 25, 1993, sent to printer.)
1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE
1-7 Yea Nay PNV Absent
1-8 Sims x
1-9 Truan x
1-10 Armbrister x
1-11 Barrientos x
1-12 Bivins x
1-13 Brown x
1-14 Carriker x
1-15 Lucio x
1-16 Montford x
1-17 Ratliff x
1-18 Shelley x
1-19 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-20 AN ACT
1-21 relating to the creation, administration, powers, duties,
1-22 operation, and financing of the Simon Villarreal Underground Water
1-23 Conservation District.
1-24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-25 SECTION 1. CREATION. (a) An underground water conservation
1-26 district, to be known as the Simon Villarreal Underground Water
1-27 Conservation District, is created in Webb County, subject to
1-28 approval at a confirmation election under Section 7 of this Act.
1-29 The district is a governmental agency and a body politic and
1-30 corporate.
1-31 (b) The district is created under and is essential to
1-32 accomplish the purposes of Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
1-33 Constitution.
1-34 SECTION 2. DEFINITION. In this Act, "district" means the
1-35 Simon Villarreal Underground Water Conservation District.
1-36 SECTION 3. BOUNDARIES. The boundaries of the district are
1-37 coextensive with the boundaries of Webb County.
1-38 SECTION 4. FINDING OF BENEFIT. All of the land and other
1-39 property included within the boundaries of the district will be
1-40 benefited by the works and projects that are to be accomplished by
1-41 the district under powers conferred by Article XVI, Section 59, of
1-42 the Texas Constitution. The district is created to serve a public
1-43 use and benefit.
1-44 SECTION 5. POWERS. (a) The district has all of the rights,
1-45 powers, privileges, authority, functions, and duties provided by
1-46 the general law of this state, including Chapters 50 and 52, Water
1-47 Code, applicable to underground water conservation districts
1-48 created under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution.
1-49 This Act prevails over any provision of general law that is in
1-50 conflict or inconsistent with this Act.
1-51 (b) The rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions,
1-52 and duties of the district are subject to the continuing right of
1-53 supervision of the state to be exercised by and through the Texas
1-54 Water Commission.
1-55 SECTION 6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) The district is
1-56 governed by a board of five directors.
1-57 (b) Except for initial directors, a director serves a
1-58 four-year term.
1-59 (c) Two members of the board are appointed by the governing
1-60 body of the city of Laredo.
1-61 (d) Three members of the board are appointed by the
1-62 commissioners court of Webb County.
1-63 (e) Each director must qualify to serve as director in the
1-64 manner provided by Sections 51.078 and 51.079, Water Code.
1-65 (f) A director serves until the director's successor has
1-66 qualified.
1-67 (g) If there is a vacancy on the board, the governing body
1-68 of the city of Laredo or the commissioners court of Webb County, as
2-1 appropriate, shall appoint a director to serve the remainder of the
2-2 term.
2-3 (h) The governing body of the city of Laredo or the
2-4 commissioners court of Webb County, as appropriate, shall appoint a
2-5 director to succeed a director appointed by that entity on or
2-6 before the date the director's term expires.
2-7 SECTION 7. CONFIRMATION ELECTION. (a) The initial board of
2-8 directors shall call and hold an election to confirm establishment
2-9 of the district.
2-10 (b) Section 41.001(a), Election Code, does not apply to a
2-11 confirmation election held as provided by this section.
2-12 (c) Except as provided by this section, a confirmation
2-13 election must be conducted as provided by Sections 52.059(b)-(g),
2-14 Water Code, and the Election Code.
2-15 SECTION 8. APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF INITIAL DIRECTORS.
2-16 (a) Not later than the 31st day after the effective date of this
2-17 Act, the governing body of the city of Laredo shall appoint:
2-18 (1) one director to serve a term that expires February
2-19 1, 1995; and
2-20 (2) one director to serve a term that expires February
2-21 1, 1997.
2-22 (b) Not later than the 31st day after the effective date of
2-23 this Act, the commissioners court of Webb County shall appoint:
2-24 (1) two directors to serve terms that expire February
2-25 1, 1995; and
2-26 (2) one director to serve a term that expires February
2-27 1, 1997.
2-28 SECTION 9. FINDINGS RELATED TO PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS.
2-29 (a) The proper and legal notice of the intention to introduce this
2-30 Act, setting forth the general substance of this Act, has been
2-31 published as provided by law, and the notice and a copy of this Act
2-32 have been furnished to all persons, agencies, officials, or
2-33 entities to which they are required to be furnished by the
2-34 constitution and other laws of this state, including the governor,
2-35 who has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Water Commission.
2-36 (b) The Texas Water Commission has filed its recommendations
2-37 relating to this Act with the governor, lieutenant governor, and
2-38 speaker of the house of representatives within the required time.
2-39 (c) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
2-40 state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
2-41 to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
2-42 and accomplished.
2-43 SECTION 10. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
2-44 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-45 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-46 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-47 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-48 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-49 passage, and it is so enacted.
2-50 * * * * *
2-51 Austin,
2-52 Texas
2-53 May 25, 1993
2-54 Hon. Bob Bullock
2-55 President of the Senate
2-56 Sir:
2-57 We, your Committee on Natural Resources to which was referred H.B.
2-58 No. 2874, have had the same under consideration, and I am
2-59 instructed to report it back to the Senate with the recommendation
2-60 that it do pass and be printed.
2-61 Sims,
2-62 Chairman
2-63 * * * * *
2-64 WITNESSES
2-65 No witnesses appeared on H.B. No. 2874.