By Culberson H.B. No. 2258 75R4835 CAG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the imposition of taxes or fees in certain water 1-3 districts. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 53, Water Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Section 53.089 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 53.089. APPROVAL OF CERTAIN ACTIONS. (a) A political 1-8 subdivision that seeks to impose a tax or fee on a person living in 1-9 any part of a freshwater supply district shall, not later than the 1-10 180th day before the date of the imposition of the tax or fee, 1-11 inform the board, in writing, of the political subdivision's 1-12 intention. 1-13 (b) The board, on receipt of the notice, shall conduct an 1-14 election on the issue of whether the tax or fee may be imposed in 1-15 the district. The election must be conducted not later than the 1-16 10th day before the date of the imposition of the tax or fee. 1-17 (c) The ballot proposition for an election under this 1-18 section must be printed to permit voting for or against the 1-19 imposition of the tax or fee by the political subdivision in the 1-20 specified part of the district. All voters in the district may vote 1-21 on the proposition. 1-22 (d) If a majority of voters voting at the election approve 1-23 the proposition, the tax or fee may be imposed. If a majority of 1-24 voters voting at the election disapprove the proposition, the 2-1 political subdivision may not impose the tax or fee and may not 2-2 propose to impose any tax or fee in the district until the fifth 2-3 anniversary after the date of the election. 2-4 (e) The provisions of this section also apply to districts 2-5 established or operating under this title. 2-6 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 2-7 applies to the imposition of taxes and fees by a political 2-8 subdivision on or after the effective date of this Act. The 2-9 imposition of taxes or fees by a political subdivision before the 2-10 effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed 2-11 immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is 2-12 continued in effect for that purpose. 2-13 (b) This Act applies only to a new tax or fee imposed by a 2-14 political subdivision. This Act does not apply to the change in a 2-15 tax or fee imposed by a political subdivision. 2-16 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.