SRC-TJG S.B. 1084 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1084
78R3090 RCJ-DBy: Madla
Natural Resources
3/24/2003
As Filed


DIGEST 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 with a per capita
income 25 percent below the state average and unemployment 25 percent
above the state average for the last three years, or next to an
international border.  As proposed, S.B. 1084 requires that when a water
district receives a loan through the TWDB's EDAP program, the loans are
interest free. 

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 17.933, Water Code, by adding Subsection (b-1),
to require the Texas Water Development Board, in providing financial
assistance in the form of a loan under this subchapter to a conservation
and reclamation district created under authority of Section 52(b)(1) or
(2), Article III (Loan of State's Credit or Grant of Public Money for Toll
Road Purposes), or Section 59, Article XVI (Conservation and Development
of Natural Resources; Conservation and Reclamation Districts), Texas
Constitution, to make the loan to the district without charging interest. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.