H.B. No. 3567




AN ACT
relating to the number and method of electing directors of the Coastal Bend Groundwater Conservation District. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 1294, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is amended by adding Sections 7A and 9A to read as follows: Sec. 7A. ADDITION OF DIRECTORS IF DISTRICT ANNEXES TERRITORY. Notwithstanding Section 7(a) of this Act, if the district annexes territory, the board of directors of the district by resolution may add one or more directors as provided by Section 36.051, Water Code. Sec. 9A. METHOD OF ELECTING DIRECTORS IF DISTRICT ANNEXES TERRITORY. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 9 and 11 of this Act, if the district annexes territory, the board of directors of the district by resolution shall adopt an appropriate and equitable method for: (1) electing directors for the district that supersedes the method of electing directors under Sections 9 and 11 of this Act; (2) drawing voting district boundaries if required by the method adopted; and (3) maintaining staggered terms for the directors. (b) If the board votes to add a director to represent annexed territory under Section 7A of this Act, at an election to ratify annexation under Section 36.328, Water Code, the board may include on the ballot the names of candidates for director to represent the annexed territory on the board. A director elected under this subsection serves until an election is held under Subsection (c) of this section. (c) A method of electing directors adopted under Subsection (a) of this section applies beginning with the election held on the first date provided by Section 11 of this Act that occurs after the date the annexation of the territory is final and that allows sufficient time to comply with any requirements of law. (d) The method of electing directors provided by Sections 9 and 11 of this Act applies until an election is held under Subsection (c) of this section. (e) To be eligible to be a candidate for or to serve as a director of the district under this section, a person must be a registered voter of the district and meet the requirements stated in a resolution adopted under Subsection (a) of this section. (f) The board may revise voting districts as necessary or appropriate. If the board adopts a method for electing directors based on voting districts, the board shall revise each voting district after each federal decennial census to reflect population changes. When the boundaries of the districts are redrawn, a director in office on the effective date of the change, or elected or appointed before the effective date of the change to a term of office beginning on or after the effective date of the change, shall serve the term or the remainder of the term in the district to which elected or appointed even though the change in boundaries places the person's residence outside the district for which the person was elected or appointed. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 3567 was passed by the House on May 16, 2003, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 3567 was passed by the Senate on May 28, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor