SRC-MWN H.B. 2994 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 2994
By: Lewis, Ron (Brown, J.E. "Buster")
Natural Resources
5/11/2001
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Legislature enacted legislation which set forth procedures for
general law district contract elections. Such a district is required to
obtain approval from the executive director of the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission (TNRCC) before entering into an obligation to
collect tax for debt that exceeds three years, unless the district has a
contract with another district. H.B. 2994 provides that such a district may
also be exempt from obtaining approval from the executive director of TNRCC
if the district has a contract with a municipality.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 49.108(e), Water Code, to provide that this
subsection does not apply to contract taxes that are levied to pay for a
district's share of bonds that have been issued by another district and
approved by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission)
or to bonds issued by a municipality. 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 49I, Water Code, by adding Section 49.279, as
follows: 

Sec. 49.279. COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL REQUIREMENTS. Requires a district
project to comply with any applicable municipal platting, environmental or
zoning requirements within the municipality's corporate limits and
extraterritorial jurisdiction and with applicable requirements of a consent
agreement or other agreement between the district and the municipality.
Provides that a district construction project is not otherwise subject to
any requirements of a municipality if the project is located outside the
municipality's corporate limits unless otherwise authorized by applicable
law. Provides that this section is not applicable to a municipality with
population of 1.9 million or greater.  

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.