BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1693 By: Armbrister (Rhodes) May 11, 1995 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District (GCUWCD) originally created districts to elect permanent directors in November 1993, pursuant to authority granted in an order creating the water district issued by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission. In drawing the districts GCUWCD complied with state law requirements for water districts that in a county with a population of less than 200,000, the city limits of all incorporated areas must be included in one district. Therefore, the City of Gonzales (pop. 6,527) comprised one district; and the four other districts were drawn with an average population of 2,515. On October 31, 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice entered an objection to the district as drawn pursuant to the Voting Rights Act on the basis that they violated one-man, one-vote and therefore diluted minority voting rights. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1693 authorizes the division of the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District into precincts; authorizes the board of directors of the district to make expenditures; and validates certain actions. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Defines "board" and "district." SECTION 2. DIVISION OF DISTRICT INTO SINGLE-MEMBER PRECINCTS. Authorizes the board of directors (board) of the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District (district) to divide the district into five precincts of substantially equal population for the purpose of electing directors. Authorizes the board to divide territory contained in a municipal corporation within the district into as many precincts as necessary to obtain precincts of substantially equal population. SECTION 3. AUTHORITY OF BOARD COMPOSED OF TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. Authorizes temporary directors serving on the board on the effective date of this Act to authorize and make, through board action, all expenditures necessary to conduct district business until permanent directors are elected and qualify for office. SECTION 4. VALIDATION. Provides that the creation of the district and all resolutions, orders, and other acts or attempted acts of the board including the board composed of temporary directors, are validated in all respects and as though they originally had been legally authorized or accomplished. SECTION 5. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B.1693 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on May 11, 1995. No testimony was received. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 2 absent.