By:  Barrientos                                       S.B. No. 1316

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to fees of office and expenses of water district

 1-2     directors.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 49.060, Water Code, is amended by

 1-5     redesignating Subsection (d) as Subsection (e) and adding a new

 1-6     Subsection (d) to read as follows:

 1-7           (d)  Instead of the fees of office and reimbursement of

 1-8     actual expenses, a director may elect to receive a per diem of $100

 1-9     for each day the director actually spends performing the duties of

1-10     a director.  The total per diems received may not exceed $6,000 per

1-11     annum except for directors of a special water authority that is

1-12     engaged in the distribution and sale of electric energy to the

1-13     public.  In order to receive the per diem, each director shall file

1-14     with the district a general description of the duties performed for

1-15     each day of service.

1-16           (e)  Section 49.002 notwithstanding, in all areas of conflict

1-17     the provisions of this section shall take precedence over all prior

1-18     statutory enactments.  If the enactment of this section results in

1-19     an increase in the fees of office for any district, that district's

1-20     fees of office shall not increase unless the board adopts a

1-21     resolution authorizing payment of the higher fees.

1-22           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-23           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.