BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 4706

81R7133 PMO-F                                                                                    By: King, Tracy O. (Uresti)

                                                                                                                               Natural Resources

                                                                                                                                            4/27/2009

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 4706 would limit the fees of office for the seven members of the board of directors of the Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (district) to $150 per month.  The board unanimously approved a resolution on February 8, 2009, asking its local legislator to file this bill asking for such limits, finding that such limits would be "appropriate and in the public interest."

 

Board policy already limits the fees of directors to $150 per month, but directors want to assure that future board members do not change the policy.  Their reasoning is that candidates for office, who must be tax-paying property owners who live on the district's network of irrigation canals, should seek office through a sense of volunteerism, rather than any financial gain that could be made through fees of office  in this rural, farming community.

 

H.B. 4706 prohibits a director of a certain water control and improvement district from receiving a fee of more than $150 a month for performing the duties of a director.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 9007, Special District Local Laws Code, by adding Section 9007.055, as follows:

 

Sec.  9007.055.  COMPENSATION.  Prohibits a director, notwithstanding Section 49.060(a) (relating to the fees of office for a director), Water Code, from receiving a fee of more than $150 a month for performing the duties of a director.

 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 3.  Provides that all requirements of the constitution and laws of this state and rules and procedure of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.

 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.