80R2583 HLT-F
 
  By: Callegari H.B. No. 713
 
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of a fresh water supply district to issue
bonds or to enter into a contract to convey property to another
water district or water supply corporation.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 53, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 53.105 to read as follows:
       Sec. 53.105.  CONTRACTS WITH OTHER DISTRICTS OR WATER SUPPLY
CORPORATIONS. (a) In this section, "authorized water district"
means a district created under Section 52(b)(1) or (2), Article
III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
       (b)  A district may enter into a contract with an authorized
water district or a water supply corporation that authorizes the
district to acquire, through the issuance of debt or other means,
and convey to the authorized water district or water supply
corporation all or part of a water supply, treatment, or
distribution system, a sanitary sewage collection or treatment
system, or works or improvements necessary for drainage of land in
the district. The contract may:
             (1)  permit the district to rehabilitate, repair,
maintain, improve, enlarge, or extend any existing facilities to be
conveyed to the authorized water district or water supply
corporation; or
             (2)  require the district to pay impact fees or other
fees to the authorized water district or water supply corporation
for capacity or service in facilities of the authorized water
district or water supply corporation.
       (c)  The contract entered into under Subsection (b) may
authorize the authorized water district or water supply corporation
to purchase the water, sewer, or drainage system from the district
through periodic payments to the district in amounts that, combined
with the net income of the district, are sufficient for the district
to pay the principal of and interest on any bonds of the district.
The contract may provide that the payments due under this
subsection:
             (1)  are payable from and secured by a pledge of all or
part of the revenue of the water, sewer, or drainage system;
             (2)  are payable from taxes to be imposed by the
authorized water district; or
             (3)  are payable from a combination of the revenue and
taxes described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).
       (d)  The contract may authorize the authorized water
district or water supply corporation to operate the water, sewer,
or drainage system conveyed by the district under Subsection (b).
       (e)  The contract may require the district to make available
to the authorized water district or water supply corporation all or
part of the raw or treated water to be used for the provision of
services in the district.
       (f)  If the contract provides for the water, sewer, or
drainage system to be conveyed to the authorized water district or
water supply corporation on or after the completion of
construction, the authorized water district or water supply
corporation may pay the district to provide water, sewer, or
drainage services to residents of the authorized water district or
customers of the water supply corporation.
       (g)  The contract may authorize the district to convey to the
authorized water district or water supply corporation at no cost a
water, sewer, or drainage system and require the authorized water
district or water supply corporation to use all or part of those
systems to provide retail service to customers in the district in
accordance with the laws of this state and any certificate of
convenience and necessity of the authorized water district or water
supply corporation.
       (h)  A contract under this section must be approved by a
majority vote of the governing bodies of the district and the
authorized water district or water supply corporation. If Section
52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution,
requires that qualified voters of the district approve the
imposition of a tax by the district or the authorized water
district, the district or the authorized water district shall call
an election for that purpose.
       SECTION 2.  Section 53.171(a), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       (a)  A district may issue bonds to secure indebtedness for
any purpose authorized by this chapter, Chapter 49, or other
applicable laws.
       SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.