HBA-NMO H.B. 2965 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2965 By: Hilbert Natural Resources 8/5/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Constitution provides for the creation of certain conservation and reclamation districts. H.B. 2965 creates the North Harris County Regional Water Authority, subject to a confirmation election. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. SECTION 1.01. CREATION. Creates a regional water authority, known as the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (authority), subject to confirmation election held under SECTION 2.05 of this Act. Provides that the authority is a governmental agency and a body politic and corporate. Provides that the authority is created under and is essential to accomplish the purposes provided by Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. SECTION 1.02. DEFINITIONS. Defines "authority," "board," "commission," "director," "local government," "person," "subsidence district," "system," "water," "subsidence," and "agricultural crop." SECTION 1.03. DESCRIPTION OF BOUNDARIES. Describes the boundaries of the authority. SECTION 1.04. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY. Authorizes a certain district to petition for exclusion of its territory from the authority's territory. Requires the board, before the 61st day after the date the authority receives the petition, to grant the petition and order the territory excluded if the petition meets certain stipulations. Requires the board, if it grants the petition, to file for recording in the office of the county clerk of Harris County a copy of the order and a description of the authority's boundaries as they exist after the exclusion of the territory. Provides that the order excluding the territory is effective immediately after the order and description are recorded. SECTION 1.05. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Provides that this Act prevails over any inconsistent provision of general law. Provides that this Act does not prevail over or preempt any provision of Chapter 151 (Harris-Galveston Costal Subsidence District), Water Code, or Chapter 36 (Groundwater Conservation Districts), Water Code, that is being implemented by the subsidence district. SECTION 1.06. FINDING OF BENEFIT. Sets forth finding of benefit. ARTICLE 2. DIRECTORS SECTION 2.01. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Provides that the authority is governed by a board, consisting of five directors. Requires the board to appoint a person to fill a vacancy in the office of director until the next election for directors. Requires the person elected to fill the position to serve only for the remainder of the unexpired term, if the position is not scheduled to be filled at the election. Provides that a person, to be eligible to serve as director, must be a qualified voter in the voting district from which the person is elected or appointed. SECTION 2.02. METHOD OF ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Requires one director to be elected from each of five single-member voting districts by the qualified voters of the voting district. Requires a person to indicate on the person's application for a place on the ballot the voting district that the person seeks to represent. Requires the board to redraw the single-member voting districts as soon as practicable after each federal census and any change in authority boundaries. Requires the election of five new directors, at the first election after each time the voting districts are redrawn. Requires the newly elected directors to draw lots regarding staggered terms. Provides that Subchapter C (Write-in Candidate in City Election), Chapter 146, Election Code, applies to the consideration of voters for a write-in candidate for initial permanent director or permanent director as if the authority were a municipality. SECTION 2.03. SERVICE OF DIRECTORS. Provides that temporary directors serve until the initial permanent directors are elected under SECTION 2.05 of this Act and that initial permanent directors serve until permanent directors are elected under SECTION 2.06 of this Act. Sets forth the terms of the directors. SECTION 2.04. TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. Provides that the temporary board of directors is composed of three individuals appointed by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC). Requires the temporary directors who have qualified to appoint a person to fill the vacancy, if a temporary director fails to qualify for office. Requires TNRCC to appoint the necessary number of persons to fill all vacancies on the board, if at any time there are fewer than two qualified directors, or if the temporary directors cannot agree on the appointment. Provides that a temporary director is not eligible to be elected under SECTION 2.05 of this Act. SECTION 2.05. CONFIRMATION AND INITIAL PERMANENT DIRECTORS' ELECTION. Requires the temporary board of directors to establish five single-member voting districts and on the first uniform election date of the calendar year 2000, hold an election to confirm the establishment of the authority and to elect five initial permanent directors. Authorizes a person who desires to be a candidate for the office of initial permanent director to file an application with the temporary board to have the candidate's name printed on the ballot. Requires the temporary board of directors to have placed on the ballot certain provisions for the confirmation and initial permanent directors' election. Requires the temporary board of directors, if the authority is confirmed and at the time the vote is canvassed, to declare election winners and include the results of the initial director's election in the authority's report to the TNRCC. Requires the initial permanent directors to draw lots regarding staggered terms. Provides that Section 41.001(a) (Uniform Election Dates), Election Code, does not apply to the confirmation and initial permanent directors' election held under this section. Requires the temporary board of directors to draft language for the ballot proposition used for the confirmation election. Provides that the ballot proposition must clearly and completely explain certain information. SECTION 2.06. ELECTION DATES. Requires election of the appropriate number of directors to the board on the first uniform election date of the calendar year in each subsequent even-numbered year. SECTION 2.07. COST OF ELECTION. Requires the temporary board of directors to fund the cost of the confirmation and initial permanent directors election if it is able to find a reasonable means of funding the election. Authorizes the temporary board and the board of directors of the subsidence district to execute an agreement requiring the subsidence district to pay the costs of the election that could not be funded by the district and requires the authority to repay the subsidence district for those costs within a reasonable period. ARTICLE 3. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS SECTION 3.01. MEETINGS AND ACTIONS OF BOARD. Requires the board to meet at least four times each year and authorizes it to meet at any other time considered appropriate. SECTION 3.02. GENERAL MANAGER. Requires the board to employ a general manager as the chief administrative officer of the authority. Authorizes the board the delegate to the general manager full authority to manage and operate the affairs of the authority subject only to the orders of the board. Sets forth the duties of the general manager. Requires the board to determine the terms of office and employment and the compensation to be paid to the general manager, and authorizes that the general manager be discharged by majority vote of the board. SECTION 3.03. EMPLOYEE BONDS. Requires the general manager to employ all persons necessary for the proper handling of the business and operation of the authority and authorizes the general manager to employ attorneys, bookkeepers, engineers, and other expert and specialized personnel considered necessary. Requires the general manager to determine compensation to be paid by the authority. Authorizes the general manager to discharge employees of the authority. Requires the general manager and each employee or contractor of the authority who is charged with the collection, custody, or payment of any money of the authority to execute a fidelity bond in an amount determined by the board and in a form and with a surety approved by the board. Requires the authority to pay for any bonds required under this section. ARTICLE 4. POWERS AND DUTIES SECTION 4.01. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. Authorizes the authority to exercise all of the rights, privileges, authority, functions, and duties necessary and convenient to accomplish the purposes of this Act, including those provided by 49 (Provisions Applicable to All Districts), Water Code. Authorizes the authority to take certain enumerated actions, including the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Act. Provides that the authority's rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions, and duties are subject to the continuing right of supervision of the state to be exercised by and through TNRCC. Requires the authority to exercise its rights, powers, privileges, and authority in a manner that will promote regionalization of water treatment and distribution. SECTION 4.02. AUTHORITY RULES. Requires the authority to adopt certain rules reasonably required to implement this Act, including rules governing procedure and practice before the board. Requires the board to compile its rules in a book and make them available for use and inspection at the authority's principal office. SECTION 4.03. FEES AND CHARGES. Authorizes the authority to establish fees and charges necessary to enable the authority to fulfill the authority's regulatory obligations under this Act. Authorizes the authority to charge against the owner of a well within the authority's boundaries a fee on the amount of water pumped from the well. Sets forth the procedure for determining the fee. Requires the board to establish the rate of a fee under this subsection only after a special meeting on the fee. Prohibits the board from applying the fee to certain wells. Provides that fees the board establishes must be sufficient to meet certain conditions. Authorizes the temporary board to set fees to pay for initial operation of the authority and the election of the initial permanent board, until such time as the permanent board has been elected. SECTION 4.04. CIVIL PENALTY; INJUNCTION. Provides that a person who violates a rule or order of the authority is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation. Authorizes the authority to bring an action to recover the penalty in a district court in the county where the violation occurred. Requires payment of the penalty to the authority. Authorizes the authority to bring an action for injunctive relief in a district court in the county where a violation of an authority rule or order occurs or is threatened to occur. Authorizes the court to grant to the authority, without bond or other undertaking, a prohibitory or mandatory injunction that the facts warrant, including a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction, or permanent injunction. Authorizes the authority to bring an action for a civil penalty and injunctive relief in the same proceeding. SECTION 4.05. WATER SUPPLY PLANS. Requires the authority, by rule, as needed but not less frequently than every five years, to develop, prepare, revise, and adopt comprehensive water supply plans for various areas of the authority. Sets forth requirements of the plan. SECTION 4.06. ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF SYSTEMS. Authorizes the authority to take certain actions relating to the acquisition, construction, and operation of systems. Requires the authority to give persons outside the authority's boundaries, including the city of Houston, the option to contract for available excess capacity of the authority's water treatment or supply system or, before construction of such a facility begins, for additional capacity of the system. Provides that the authority must offer a contract that would enable the person to pay for the excess capacity or additional capacity in accordance with the person's pro rata share of the capital investment and operational and maintenance costs for providing the excess capacity or additional capacity. SECTION 4.07. SALE OR REUSE OF WATER OR BY-PRODUCT. Authorizes the authority to store, sell, or reuse water or any by-product from the authority's operation. SECTION 4.08. EMINENT DOMAIN. Authorizes the authority to exercise the power of eminent domain under Chapter 21 (Eminent Domain), Property Code, to acquire property of any kind to further authorize authority purposes. Prohibits the authority from exercising the power of eminent domain outside of the boundaries of the authority. SECTION 4.09. CONTRACTS. Authorizes the authority to enter into a contract with any person or legal entity regarding the performance of any purpose or function of the authority to accomplish a purpose or function of the authority. Authorizes a contract to be of unlimited duration. Authorizes the authority to purchase an interest in a project used for a purpose or a function of the authority. Authorizes the authority to contract for certain purposes. Authorizes the authority to purchase surplus property from this state, the United States, or another public entity through a negotiated contract without bids. Requires an officer, agent, or employee of the authority who is financially interested in a contract of the type described in a surplus property contract to disclose the interest to the board before the board votes on the acceptance of the contract. SECTION 4.10. COOPERATION WITH AND ASSISTANCE OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. Authorizes the board, in implementing this Act, to cooperate with and request the assistance of the Texas Water Development Board, TNRCC, the U.S. Geological Survey, the subsidence district, other local governments, and other agencies of the U.S. and this state in implementing this Act. Authorizes the subsidence district to enter into an interlocal contract with the authority to carry out the authority's purposes and grants it the authority necessary to carry out the governmental function and services specified in the interlocal contract. Requires the board to coordinate with the city of Houston to develop an interregional plan for a system to distribute treated surface water in an economical and efficient manner. SECTION 4.11. GIFTS AND GRANTS. Authorizes the authority to accept a gift or grant from money collected by the subsidence district under Chapter 151 (Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District), Water Code, to fund a water treatment or supply system. Provides that this authorization is in addition to the authorization provided in Section 49.229 (Gifts and Grants), Water Code. SECTION 4.12. EXPENDITURES. Authorizes that the authority's money be disbursed only by check, draft, order, or other instrument. Sets forth procedure for disbursement. SECTION 4.13. TAXATION. Prohibits the authority from imposing an ad valorem tax. ARTICLE 5. NOTES AND BONDS SECTION 5.01. REVENUE NOTES. Authorizes the board, without an election, to borrow money on negotiable notes of the authority to be paid solely from the revenue derived from any legal source. Authorizes that the notes be first or subordinate lien notes at the board's discretion. Prohibits an obligation from being a charge on the property of the authority. Authorizes that an obligation only be a charge on revenue pledged for the payment of the obligation. SECTION 5.02. BONDS. Authorizes the authority, to carry out a power or authority conferred by this Act, to issue bonds secured by all or part of the revenue derived from any source. Authorizes the authority, in issuing or securing a bond or note of the authority, to exercise any power of an issuer under Chapter 656, Acts of the 68th Legislature, Regular Session, 1983 (Article 717q, V.T.C.S.). Authorizes the authority to conduct a public, private, or negotiated sale of the bonds. Provides that the authority's bonds must conform to certain standards. Authorizes that an authority bond be secured by an indenture of trust with a corporate trustee. Authorizes the authority to issue bonds in more than one series as required for carrying out the purposes of this Act. Authorizes the authority, in issuing bonds secured by the authority's ad valorem taxes or by revenue, to reserve the right to issue additional bonds secured by the authority's ad valorem taxes or by revenue that are on a parity with or are senior or subordinate to the bonds issued earlier. Authorizes that the resolution authorizing the bonds or the trust indenture securing the bonds specify additional provisions that constitute a contract between the authority and its bondholders. Authorizes the board to provide for additional bond provisions and for a corporate trustee or receiver to take possession of the authority's facilities if the authority defaults. Provides that Section 49.181 (Authority of Commission Over Issuance of District Bonds), Water Code, does not apply to bonds or notes issued by the authority. SECTION 5.03. REFUNDING BONDS. Provides that the provisions of this Act that apply to the authority's issuance of other bonds, their security, and the remedies of the holders apply to refunding bonds. SECTION 5.04. APPROVAL AND REGISTRATION OF BONDS. Requires the authority to submit the bonds and the record relating to their issuance to the attorney general for approval, after the authority authorizes bonds. Requires the authority to submit to the attorney general a copy of the contract and the proceedings of the municipality or other governmental agency, authority, or district authorizing the contract, if the bonds are secured by a pledge of the proceeds of a contract between the authority and a municipality or other governmental agency, authority, or district. Requires the attorney general to approve the bonds and contracts, if the attorney general finds that the bonds have been authorized and each contract has been made in accordance with the constitution and laws of this state. Requires the bonds, on approval, to be registered by the comptroller. SECTION 5.05. FUNDING BY OTHER DISTRICTS. Requires the authority to develop a procedure for cooperatively funding an authority project with money from other districts inside the authority's boundaries if the authority project fulfills a governmental purpose of both the authority and other districts. Requires the authority by a certain date to provide written notice of the authority's intention to issue the bonds to each district inside the authority's boundaries that may be benefited or affected by the project. Provides that the notice must include certain information related to the value of the bonds planned to be issued. Provides that the schedule must be prepared by means of a formula certified by the authority engineer. Authorizes a district to enter into a certain contract with the authority. Requires the contract to be executed before the authority issues the bonds. Requires the authority to take certain actions as provided by the contract. ARTICLE 6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 6.01. FINDINGS RELATED TO PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS. Sets forth certain findings related to procedural requirements. SECTION 6.02. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.