BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1480 By: Patterson (Lucio) Water 05-04-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Section 201.152 of the Agriculture Code authorizes a county to contribute funds to a soil and water conservation district to match all or part of the funds received from the state for use in soil conservation and flood control programs. Some counties and other political subdivisions have misinterpreted this code to mean that they may not contribute funds to water and soil conservation districts unless there are state funds available to match their donations. This has kept some political subdivisions from contributing available funds to soil conservation flood control programs. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1480 authorizes a county, city, water control and improvement district, drainage district, or other political subdivision to contribute funds to a soil and water conservation district. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 201.152(c), Agriculture Code, to authorize a county, city, water control and improvement district, drainage district, or other political subdivision (political subdivision) to contribute funds to a soil and water conservation district (district) for a purpose authorized by this chapter or for the exercise of any power or duty conferred on a district that will benefit the contributing district or political subdivision. Authorizes all or part of the funds contributed by a political subdivision to a district to be used by the district to match funds received from the state. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.