H.B. 3229 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 3229
By: Rose
Natural Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, elections for the directors of the Blanco-Pedernales
Groundwater Conservation District (district) must be conducted under the
precinct method described in Texas Water Code Section 36.059 which
requires that the district be divided into 5 separate precincts.
Furthermore, Section 36.059 also prohibits a municipal corporation from
being located in more than one director precinct. These requirements are
difficult for the district to achieve in that Blanco County has a total
population of less than 9,000 and the two largest municipalities have
populations of between 1,500 and 2,000.  For these reasons and for the
convenience of the voters, many single county groundwater districts in
Texas are authorized to use the four County Commissioner precincts and one
at-large precinct for electing directors.  As filed, H.B.3229 would allow
municipalities to be located in one or more precincts and would allow the
district the option of using either the precinct method described in
Section 36.059 or the County Commissioner precinct method as described in
the bill. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution.   

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Definitions.  Defines the "District" and the "Board".

SECTION 2.  Board Resolution.  Provides that, following a public hearing
regarding the methods of electing directors, the Board may, by resolution,
determine which electoral method described in this Act shall be used to
elect directors of the district. 

SECTION 3.  Election of Directors.

(a) Provides two methods of electing directors of the district: (1)
precinct method described in Section 36.059 and, (2) County Commissioner
precinct method described in subsection (b). 

(b)  Describes the County Commission precinct method of electing directors.

(c)  Provides that municipal corporations may be included in one or more
director precincts. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

The Act takes effect upon passage, or if the Act does not receive the
necessary vote, the Act takes effect on September 1, 2003.