78R1326 SGA-D


By:  Eiland                                                       H.B. No. 924



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to extending the boundaries of the Galveston County 
Navigation District No. 1.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  DEFINITION.  In this Act, "district" means the 
Galveston County Navigation District No. 1.
	SECTION 2.  EXTENSION OF BOUNDARIES.  Subject to a 
confirmation election held as provided by Section 4 of this Act, the 
boundaries of the district are extended to include all areas that, 
on the effective date of this Act, are within the geographical 
boundaries of the city of Galveston, the city of Jamaica Beach, and 
Galveston Island State Park and the unincorporated areas within the 
Galveston County Municipal Utility District No. 1 - Pirates Beach.
	SECTION 3.  FINDING OF BENEFIT.  All of the land and other 
property included within the boundaries of the district as extended 
by this Act will be benefited by the works and projects that are to 
be accomplished by the district under powers conferred by Section 
59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.  The district is created to 
serve a public use and benefit.
	SECTION 4.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION; ORDER OF 
ANNEXATION.  (a)  The board of navigation and canal commissioners 
of the district shall call and hold an election to confirm the 
extension of the boundaries of the district under Section 2 of this 
Act.
	(b)  The board of navigation and canal commissioners shall 
conduct the election as provided by Sections 63.376-63.379, Water 
Code, except that:
		(1)  the election must be held so as to include all 
eligible voters residing in the district and in the territory 
described by Section 2 of this Act;
		(2)  the ballots for the election must be printed to 
allow for voting for or against the proposition:  "Annexation to 
Galveston County Navigation District No. 1 of all of the area of 
Galveston Island not presently part of the district"; and
		(3)  if a majority of the voters voting in the election 
favor the annexation, the board of navigation and canal 
commissioners shall enter an order in its minutes annexing the 
additional territory to the district.
	(c)  The board of navigation and canal commissioners may 
order the election held on the date of the general election of state 
and county officers, jointly with the general election, in the 
manner provided by Section 63.0895, Water Code.
	(d)  On and after the entry of the order required by 
Subsection (b)(3) of this section, the annexed territory is a part 
of the district for all purposes.
	(e)  Before the entry of the order required by Subsection 
(b)(3) of this section:
		(1)  property located outside the boundaries of the 
district, as those boundaries existed immediately before the 
effective date of this Act, is not subject to ad valorem taxes of 
the district;
		(2)  voters of the territory located outside the 
boundaries of the district, as those boundaries existed immediately 
before the effective date of this Act, may not vote in an election 
for navigation and canal commissioners of the district; and
		(3)  to qualify as a candidate for election as a 
navigation and canal commissioner, a person must reside inside the 
boundaries of the district, as those boundaries existed immediately 
before the effective date of this Act.
	(f)  If the order required by Subsection (b)(3) of this 
section is not entered before the fifth anniversary of the 
effective date of this Act, this Act expires.
	SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect 
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members 
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas 
Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for 
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.


COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
	Amend H.B. 924 as follows:                                                     
	(1)  On page 3, after line 11, insert:                                         
	SECTION 5.  EFFECT ON OWNERSHIP OF SUBMERGED LAND.  Nothing 
in this Act shall be construed to:
		(1)  grant ownership or control of any state-owned 
submerged land within the expanded boundaries of the district to 
the navigation district; or
		(2)  limit or otherwise affect the authority of the 
State of Texas, or anyone claiming under the State of Texas, to 
enter or possess state-owned submerged land for the purpose of 
exploring for oil, gas, or other minerals within or near the 
expanded boundaries.
	(2)  On page 3, line 12, strike "5" and substitute "6"                         

                                                                        Krusee