1-1 By: Keel (Senate Sponsor - Barrientos) H.B. No. 2274 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 1999; 1-3 May 10, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural 1-4 Resources; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the administration, powers, duties, operation and 1-9 financing of Wells Branch Municipal Utility District in Travis and 1-10 Williamson counties. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "district" means Wells 1-13 Branch Municipal Utility District, located in Travis and Williamson 1-14 counties, Texas. 1-15 SECTION 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to meet the 1-16 special needs of Wells Branch Municipal Utility District, which was 1-17 created and operates under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas 1-18 Constitution. 1-19 SECTION 3. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that 1-20 there exists a public necessity to amend the law governing Wells 1-21 Branch Municipal Utility District pursuant to Section 59, Article 1-22 XVI, Texas Constitution, and that this Act will further the 1-23 conservation and development of the natural resources of the state 1-24 within this district. 1-25 SECTION 4. AUTHORITY OF WELLS BRANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY 1-26 DISTRICT. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Local Government Code, is 1-27 amended by adding Section 42.049 to read as follows: 1-28 Sec. 42.049. AUTHORITY OF WELLS BRANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY 1-29 DISTRICT. (a) Wells Branch Municipal Utility district is 1-30 authorized to contract with a municipality: 1-31 (1) to provide for payments to be made to the 1-32 municipality for purposes that the governing body of the district 1-33 determines will further regional cooperation between the district 1-34 and the municipality; and 1-35 (2) to provide other lawful terms and considerations 1-36 that the district and the municipality agree are reasonable and 1-37 appropriate. 1-38 (b) A contract entered into under this section may be for a 1-39 term that is mutually agreeable to the parties. The parties to 1-40 such a contract may renew or extend the contract. 1-41 (c) A municipality may contract with the district to 1-42 accomplish the purposes set forth in Subsection (a) of this 1-43 section. In a contract entered into under this section, a 1-44 municipality may agree that the district will remain in existence 1-45 and be exempt from annexation by the municipality for the term of 1-46 the contract. 1-47 (d) A contract entered into under this section will be 1-48 binding on all subsequent governing bodies of the district and of 1-49 the municipality for the term of the contract. 1-50 (e) The district may make annual appropriations from its 1-51 operations and maintenance tax or other revenues lawfully available 1-52 to the district to make payments to a municipality under a contract 1-53 entered into under this section. 1-54 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 1-55 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-56 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-57 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-58 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-59 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-60 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-61 * * * * *