BLS H.B. 3586 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


NATURAL RESOURCES
H.B. 3586
By: Eiland
4-30-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Last session, legislation made sweeping changes to the Water Code.
However, the legislation has led to some confusion for water districts as
to which law governs. 

PURPOSE

To comply with law from the 74th Session, this bill changes the Clear
Creek Drainage District Charter to: allow members on the Board of
Supervisors to serve four-year terms; change the election procedure to
follow the procedures set out in the Water Code; and provide for
procedures if a vacancy occurs on the Board. It also clarifies what will
happen with supervisors now serving on the board under uncertain time
frames.   

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.  Amends Section 3, Chapter 243, Acts of the 58th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1963 (Article 8280-285, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by
changing the board member terms from two to four years, and setting
elections for May of even-numbered years. Adds subsections (b) and (c) to
prescribe procedures to handle vacancies if and when they occur.       

SECTION 2.  Provides that, notwithstanding Section 50(b), Chapter 715,
Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, supervisors elected
in 1995 serve until the next elected supervisor takes office after the May
1998 elections; and any supervisor elected in 1996 serves until the
supervisors elected in May 2000 take office.   

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.