AN ACT

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

 1-2     provide water services in Williamson County.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  The Lower Colorado River Authority Act, Chapter

 1-5     7, Acts of the 43rd Legislature, 4th Called Session, 1934 (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

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

 2-2     River and the Brazos River.

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

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-8     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-9     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1879 passed the Senate on

         April 24, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1879 passed the House on

         May 6, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0, one present

         not voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor