S.B. 526 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 526 By: Staples Natural Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the San Jacinto River Authority board of directors is the only river authority board in the state appointed by the Texas Water Development Board. All others are appointed by the governor. S.B. 526 would promote consistency in the appointment process and recognize the importance of water resources to the state by statutorily transferring appointment power from the Water Development Board to the Governor. 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 S.B. 526 amends the enabling legislation for the San Jacinto River Authority to provide that appointments to the board of directors shall be made by the Governor and not the State Board of Water Engineers. The bill also provides that four of the six appointments shall be residents of a county wholly encompassed by the district. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003