75R10294 JJT-F                           

         By Krusee                                              H.B. No. 162

         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 162:

         By Lewis of Orange                                 C.S.H.B. No. 162

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the powers of the Lower Colorado River Authority to

 1-3     provide water services in Williamson County.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  The Lower Colorado River Authority Act (Article

 1-6     8280-107, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) is amended by adding

 1-7     Section 27 to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 27.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this

 1-9     Act, the district may purchase, construct, acquire, own, operate,

1-10     repair, improve, or extend any facility necessary or convenient to

1-11     provide water services in Williamson County in cooperation with

1-12     another special district, a municipality, or another governmental

1-13     entity.

1-14           (b)  The district may not provide water services in the

1-15     watershed of the Brazos River unless the district obtains in

1-16     writing the consent of the Brazos River Authority before the

1-17     services are provided.

1-18           (c)  The district may transfer surface water from the

1-19     district to a place in Williamson County that is outside the

1-20     watershed of the Colorado River only if the transfer is made to a

1-21     municipality that is:

1-22                 (1)  a district water customer on the effective date of

1-23     this section; and

1-24                 (2)  located in the watersheds of both the Colorado

 2-1     River and the Brazos River.

 2-2           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-7     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-8     passage, and it is so enacted.