S.B. 1084 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1084 By: Madla Border and International Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1989, the 71st Texas Legislature created the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP) under the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). These areas receive grants and/or loans from TWDB to provide water and wastewater services. EDAP counties are those counties that either have a per capita income 25 percent below the state average and unemployment 25 percent above the state average for the last three years, or are adjacent to an international border. Senate Bill 1084 would require that a loan received through the TWDB's EDAP program is interest-free. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, department or agency. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Senate Bill 1084 amends the Water Code to require the Texas Water Development Board, in providing financial assistance in the form of a loan under the Economically Distressed Areas Program to a conservation and reclamation district created under authority of Section 52 (b) (1) or (2), Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, to make the loan to the district without charging interest. SECTION 2. Prospective clause. SECTION 3. Effective date. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.