1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to zoning around Lake Somerville.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 231, Local Government Code, is amended by

 1-5     adding Subchapter J to read as follows:

 1-6                SUBCHAPTER J.  ZONING AROUND LAKE SOMERVILLE

 1-7           Sec. 231.201.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:

 1-8                 (1)  "Affected county" means Burleson, Milam, Lee, or

 1-9     Washington County.

1-10                 (2)  "Lake area" means the area within 5,000 feet of

1-11     the project boundary line for Lake Somerville.

1-12           Sec. 231.202.  LAKE SOMERVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION.  (a)  A

1-13     lake planning commission is established for the lake area in

1-14     Burleson, Milam, Lee, and Washington counties and is composed of:

1-15                 (1)  one resident of each affected county, appointed by

1-16     the county judge of that county; and

1-17                 (2)  the presiding officer of the commission appointed

1-18     by the county judge of Burleson County.

1-19           (b)  Except for the initial appointed members, the appointed

1-20     members of the commission are appointed for terms of two years

1-21     expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.  The initial

1-22     appointed members are appointed for terms expiring on the first

1-23     February 1 of an odd-numbered year occurring after the date of

1-24     their appointment.

 2-1           (c)  The commissioners courts of the affected counties may

 2-2     employ staff for the use of the commission in performing its

 2-3     functions.

 2-4           Sec. 231.203.  COMMISSION STUDIES; REPORTS; HEARINGS.

 2-5     (a)  At the request of the commissioners court of an affected

 2-6     county, the lake planning commission shall, or on its own

 2-7     initiative the commission may, conduct studies of the lake area in

 2-8     that county and prepare reports to advise the commissioners court

 2-9     about matters affecting the lake area in that county, including the

2-10     need for zoning regulations in the lake area in that county.

2-11           (b)  Before the commission may prepare a report, it must hold

2-12     a public hearing at which members of the public may present

2-13     testimony about any subject to be included in the commission's

2-14     report.  The commission shall give notice of the hearing as

2-15     required by the commissioners court of the affected county.

2-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3583 was passed by the House on May

         10, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3583 on May 28, 1997, by a non-record

         vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3583 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 26, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays

         0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor