SRC-JEC C.S.S.B. 1836 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1836
78R12377 KEL-FBy: Staples
State Affairs
4/29/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is authorized to issue
up to $250 million in bonds to finance water and wastewater projects in
"economically distressed areas."  C.S.S.B. 1836 expands the eligibility
for funding from the bond revenues to include more counties that meet the
definition of "economically distressed," but the counties can receive
funding only after all the current authorized bond funds have been
obligated. 

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 15.407(i), Water Code, to provide that if,
after submission of an application under this section, a county fails to
meet the definition of an affected county in Section 16.341, the political
subdivision that submits the application continues to be eligible for the
funds under this section.  Deletes text specifying how a county could no
longer meet the definition of "affected county." 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 16.341(1), Water Code, to redefine "affected
county."  

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 17.923, Water Code, to provide that,
notwithstanding Subsection (a), if the Texas Water Development Board
adopts a resolution stating that the proceeds of the bonds authorized by
Section 49-d-7(b), Article III, Texas Constitution, have been fully
committed, any county with an economically distressed area is eligible for
financial assistance under this subchapter beginning on the date the
resolution is adopted. 

SECTION  4.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.