HBA-RBT H.B. 3805 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3805
By: Gallego
Natural Resources
4/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, groundwater conservation districts can be created to effectively
plan, develop and regulate the use of water.  H.B. 3805 creates the
Trans-Pecos Groundwater Conservation District to manage Pecos County's
water groundwater resources. 

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

SECTION 1.  CREATION.  Creates a groundwater conservation district, to be
known as the TransPecos Groundwater Conservation District, in Pecos County,
subject to approval at a confirmation election under Section 9 of this Act.
Provides that the district is a governmental agency and a body politic and
corporate.  Provides that the district is created under and is essential to
accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.  

SECTION 2.  DEFINITION.  Defines "district" to be the Trans-Pecos
Groundwater Conservation District.  

SECTION 3.  BOUNDARIES.   Provides that the boundaries of the district are
coextensive with the boundaries of Pecos County.  

SECTION 4.  FINDING OF BENEFIT.   Presents finding of benefit. 

SECTION 5.  POWERS.  Provides that the district has all the rights, powers,
privileges, authority, functions, and duties provided by the general law of
this state, including Chapter 36 (Groundwater Conservation Districts),
Water Code, applicable to groundwater conservation districts created under
Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.  Provides that Chapter 49
(Provisions Applicable to All Districts), Water Code, does not apply to the
district.  Provides that this Act prevails over any provision of general
law that is in conflict or inconsistent with this Act. Provides that the
district has the power to limit the transfer of groundwater out of the
district, including the power to prohibit the transfer.  

SECTION 6. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.  Requires the directors of the district
to be elected according to the commissioners precinct method as provided by
this Act.  Sets forth the method of electing directors. 

SECTION 7.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS.  Provides that the district is governed by
a board of five directors and sets forth the qualifications and terms of
the directors.  Prohibits a director from receiving a salary or other
compensation for service as a director but may be reimbursed for actual
expenses of attending meetings at the rate in effect for employees of Pecos
County.  

SECTION 8.  APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF TEMPORARY DIRECTORS.  Requires the
Pecos County Commissioners Court to appoint one director, representing the
district at large, to serve a term expiring February 1, 2000,  two
directors, representing precincts one and three, to serve  terms expiring
February 1, 2001, and two directors, representing precincts two and four,
to serve terms expiring February 1, 2002, within 31 days of the effective
date of this Act.  Sets forth the procedure in the event of a vacancy. 

SECTION 9.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION.  Requires the  temporary board of
directors to call and hold an election before the second anniversary of the
effective date of this Act to confirm establishment of the district.  Sets
forth the procedure to be followed after the election. 

SECTION 10. ELECTION OF INITIAL DIRECTORS.  Requires the board, beginning
in the first year after the year in which the district is authorized to be
created at a confirmation election to call an election to be held in the
district on the third Saturday in January every year to elect the
appropriate number of directors to the board.  Provides that all temporary
director's positions that have expired or are due to expire on February 1
of that year shall be up for election.  Provides that the initial directors
serve terms expiring on the third anniversary of the expiration date
specified for that director's position in Section 8.  

SECTION 11.  FINDINGS RELATING TO PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS.  Provides that
the proper and legal notice of the intention to introduce this Act, setting
forth the general substance of this Act, has been published as provided by
law, and the notice and a copy of this Act have been furnished to all
persons, agencies, officials, or entities to which they are required to be
furnished by the constitution and other laws of this state, including the
governor, who has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission.  Provides that the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission has filed its recommendations relating to this Act
with the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
representatives within the required time. Provides that all requirements of
the constitution and laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the
legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this
Act are fulfilled and accomplished.  

SECTION 12.  Emergency clause.
        Effective date: upon passage.