SRC-SEW S.B. 1646 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1646
2001S0772/1By: Bernsen
Natural Resources
4/18/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Coastal Water Authority (authority), authorized by the 60th
Legislature, is a conservation and reclamation district located in the
three-county area encompassing all of Harris County and parts of Chambers
and Liberty counties.  As proposed, S.B. 1646 authorizes the authority to
abandon certain canals, laterals, or ditches that are no longer needed to
provide water to customers; changes the qualifications for persons eligible
to be appointed to the board of directors from Liberty County; and
authorizes the authority to issue refunding bonds. 

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 3, Chapter 601, Acts of the 60th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1967 (Article 8280-355, V.T.C.S.), as follows: 

Sec. 3.  Expressly authorizes the Coastal Water Authority (authority),
provided that the authority has no existing contractual obligation to any
person, corporation or political subdivision to use a particular canal,
lateral or ditch to transport or deliver water, to abandon, sell, release
or deconstruct that canal, ditch or lateral if certain conditions apply.  
Deletes text requiring the authority to comply with the provisions of
Chapter 1, Title 128, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended.
Prohibits anything herein contained from precluding the authority from
acquiring water rights under any law or permits heretofore or hereafter
issued, provided acquisition of the same is approved by order or subsequent
permit from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 5(a), Chapter 601, Acts of the 60th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1967 (Article 8280-355, V.T.C.S.), to provide that,
beginning in the year 2005, a person appointed to the board of directors by
the governor need not be a resident within the boundaries of the authority
if the person is a resident within the area of Liberty County south of U.S.
Highway 90 and west of the Trinity River. 

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 601, Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1967 (Article 8280-355, V.T.C.S.), by adding Section 6(a), as
follows: 

Sec. 6(a).  Provides that the authority is authorized to issue its
refunding bonds to refund any authority bond or obligation in accordance
with the laws of the state including bonds or other obligations that have
previously been defeased by the authority by escrowing United States
government obligations to pay the principal, interest and redemption price
to their maturity date and would otherwise be deemed to be no longer
outstanding. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.