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.