By: Hegar  S.B. No. 1676
         (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2007; March 21, 2007, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
  May 17, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 1; May 17, 2007,
  sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1676 By:  Hegar
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the sunset review of certain river authorities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 222.001, Water Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 222.001.  CREATION.  (a)  A conservation and
  reclamation district to be known as the "Lower Colorado River
  Authority" is created.  The authority is a governmental agency and a
  body politic and corporate.
         (b)  The authority is created under and is essential to
  accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution, including the control, storing, preservation, and
  distribution of the waters of the Colorado River and its
  tributaries within the boundaries of the authority for irrigation,
  generation of electric energy and power, and other useful purposes;
  the reclamation and irrigation of arid, semiarid, and other lands
  needing irrigation; the development of parks on lands owned or
  acquired by the authority; and the conservation and development of
  the forests, water, and electric power in this state.
         (c)  Nothing in this chapter or in any other law shall be
  construed as authorizing the authority to levy or collect taxes or
  to create any indebtedness payable out of taxes or in any way to
  pledge the credit of this state.
         (d)  The authority is a state agency subject to review for
  the purposes of Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act),
  but may not be abolished under that chapter.  The review shall be
  conducted as if the authority were scheduled to be abolished
  September 1, 2009.
         (e)  The authority shall pay the cost incurred by the Sunset
  Advisory Commission in performing a review of the authority under
  this section.  The Sunset Advisory Commission shall determine the
  cost, and the authority shall pay the amount promptly on receipt of
  a statement from the Sunset Advisory Commission detailing the cost.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2007.
 
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