BLS H.B. 3592 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


NATURAL RESOURCES
H.B. 3592
By: Madden
4-30-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Upon passage of SB 626 during the 74th Legislature, Chapter 49 of the
Texas Water Code was amended to require four-year terms for members of a
district's governing board (unless the board is temporary), with the
election to be held on a uniform election date in January or May of
evennumbered years.  Whether or not a special law district's enabling
legislation establishes a twoyear or four-year term for its governing
board's members, its elections still must be held on a January or May
uniform election date in even-numbered years.  The Board of Directors of
the Seis Lagos Utility District, though eligible to retain two-year terms
under its special district status, wishes to extend its members' terms
from two to four years and stagger them appropriately, while changing to
the new even-numbered year election cycle. 

PURPOSE

To provide a mechanism for the Seis Lagos Utility District's Board of
Directors to make the transition both from two-year to four-year terms,
from elections in odd-numbered to evennumbered years for its members, and
to stagger their terms appropriately. 

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 5(e), Chapter 527, Acts of the 71st
Legislature, Regular Session, 1989, by designating the first Saturday in
May of each even numbered year as the date for holding the district's
election for directors to the board, its members to serve staggered
four-year terms. 

SECTION 2:  (a) Stipulates that the terms of the two directors elected at
the May 1995 election expire on the first Saturday in May 1998 as provided
by Section 50(b), Chapter 715, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1993. 

 (b) Stipulates that the terms of the three directors elected in May 1996
expire on the first Saturday in May 2000 as provided by Section 49.103,
Water Code. 

 (c) Stipulates that directors elected at the election held on the first
Saturday in May 1998 and in subsequent even-numbered years serve four-year
terms. 

SECTION 3:  Emergency clause.