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.