SRC-TJG H.B. 535 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 535
78R3350 RCJ-DBy: Cook, Robby (Armbrister)
Natural Resources
4-6-2003
Engrossed

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Changing the date of the election for directors of the Fayette County
Groundwater Conservation District to the general election in November
would allow the election to be held together with other elections,
resulting in cost savings.  H.B. 460 codifies the name of the district
and provides for the election of permanent directors to be held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 

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 1(a), Chapter 302, Acts of the 77th
legislature, Regular Session, 2001, as follows: 
 
(a)  Provides that groundwater conservation district, to be known as the
Fayette County, rather than the Colorado Valley,  Groundwater Conservation
District, is created in Fayette County, subject to approval at a
confirmation and initial directors' election under Section 10 of this Act.
Provides that the district is a governmental agency and a body politic and
corporate.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 2, Chapter 302, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2001, as follows: 

 Sec. 2.  DEFINITION.  Redefines "district" to a make conforming change.

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 11, Chapter 302, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2001, as follows: 

Sec.  11.  ELECTION OF PERMANENT DIRECTORS.  (a)  Requires an election to
be held in the district, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November 2004, for the election of directors from Precincts 1 and 3, to
serve four years terms beginning January 1, 2005, rather than two-year
terms for directors from Precincts 1 and 3 and four-year terms for
directors from Precincts 2 and 4 and from the district at large. 

(a-1)  Requires an election to be held in the district, on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2006, for the election of
directors from Precincts 2 and 4 and from district at large to serve
four-year terms beginning January 1, 2007. 

(b)  Requires the appropriate number of directors, on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in November, rather than the first Saturday in May,
of each subsequent second year following the election held in 2006, to be
elected for terms beginning January 1 of the following year. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.

(b)  Requires the directors from Precincts 1 and 3 elected in May 2002 to
continue  in office until successor directors elected in November  2004,
as provided by the change in law made by this Act to Section 11, Chapter
302, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, qualify for
office. 

(c)  Requires the directors from Precincts 2 and 4 and from the district
at large elected in May 2002 to continue in office until successor
directors elected in November 2006, as provided by the change in law made
by this Act to Section 11, Chapter 302, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2001, qualify for office.