1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     pertaining to the execution of documents on behalf of certain water

 1-3     districts.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 49.054(c), Water Code, is amended to read

 1-6     as follows:

 1-7           (c)  The president is the chief executive officer of the

 1-8     district, presides at all meetings of the board, and shall execute

 1-9     all documents on behalf of the district unless the board by

1-10     resolution authorizes the general manager or other employee of the

1-11     district to execute a document or documents on behalf of the

1-12     district.  The vice-president shall act as president in case of the

1-13     absence or disability of the president.  The secretary is

1-14     responsible for seeing that all records and books of the district

1-15     are properly kept and may [shall] attest the president's signature

1-16     on [all] documents.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2688 was passed by the House on April

         18, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2688 was passed by the Senate on May

         22, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor