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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a municipal utility district to |
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regulate signs and billboards. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.205, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 54.205. ADOPTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. (a) A |
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district may adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations to: |
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(1) secure and maintain safe, sanitary, and adequate |
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plumbing installations, connections, and appurtenances as |
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subsidiary parts of its sanitary sewer system; |
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(2) preserve the sanitary condition of all water |
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controlled by the district; |
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(3) prevent waste or the unauthorized use of water |
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controlled by the district; |
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(4) regulate privileges on any land or any easement |
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owned or controlled by the district; [and] |
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(5) provide and regulate a safe and adequate |
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freshwater distribution system; and |
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(6) license or regulate the type, placement, and |
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appearance of signs and billboards within the district that are not |
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located adjacent to county or state roads or highways to maintain |
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property values within the district. |
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(b) A licensing requirement or regulation adopted under |
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Subsection (a)(6) may not be more stringent than a licensing |
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requirement or regulation of a municipality in whose corporate |
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limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located. |
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If a licensing requirement or regulation adopted by a district |
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under Subsection (a)(6) conflicts with a licensing requirement or |
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regulation of a municipality in whose corporate limits or |
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extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located, the |
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municipal licensing requirement or regulation prevails within the |
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municipality's jurisdiction to the extent of the conflict. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not |
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affect a sign or billboard erected in a district before the |
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effective date of this Act. A sign or billboard erected before the |
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effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect on the |
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date the sign or billboard was erected, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |