BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        S.B. 1693
                                                   By: Armbrister
                                                Natural Resources
                                                         05-08-95
                                     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 grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

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.